34Accordingly, the main objective pursued in recovering unlawfully paid State aid is to eliminate the distortion of competition caused by the competitive advantage which such aid affords (Case C-277/00Germany v Commission [2004] ECR I-3925, paragraph 76, and Case C-520/07 PCommission v MTU Friedrichshafen [2009] ECR I-8555, paragraph 57). By repaying the aid, the beneficiary forfeits the advantage which it had over its competitors on the market, and the situation prior to payment of the aid is restored (Case C-350/93Commission v Italy [1995] ECR I-699, paragraph 22).