62021TJ0238_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Tenth Chamber) of 10 May 2023 –Ryanair v Commission (SAS II; COVID-19)
(Case T‑238/21) (
1
)
(State aid – Danish and Swedish air transport markets – Aid granted by Denmark and Sweden to an airline in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic – Recapitalisation of SAS – Decision not to raise any objections – Actions for annulment – Individual concern – Substantial effect on the competitive position – Admissibility – Temporary Framework for State aid measures – Aid to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of a Member State – Compliance with the requirements of the Temporary Framework)
1.
Action for annulment – Natural or legal persons – Measures of direct and individual concern to them – Individual concern – Criteria – Commission decision finding an aid compatible with the internal market – Action of a rival undertaking claiming that its market position is significantly affected – Admissibility
(Arts 108(2) and (3) and 263, fourth para., TFEU)
(see paragraphs 13-22)
2.
Action for annulment – Natural or legal persons – Measures of direct and individual concern to them – Direct concern – Criteria – Commission decision finding an aid compatible with the internal market – Action brought by an undertaking which is a competitor of the undertaking in receipt of aid – Competing undertaking establishing that it is directly concerned
(Arts 108(2) and (3) and 263, fourth para., TFEU)
(see paragraph 23)
3.
State aid – Examination by the Commission – Communications adopted by the Commission – Temporary Framework for State aid measures to support the economy in the COVID-19 pandemic – Legal nature – Indicative rules of conduct implying a self-limitation on the Commission’s discretion – Ability of the Commission to depart from them
(Art. 107(3)(b) TFEU; Commission Communication 2020/C 91 I/01)
(see paragraphs 32-34)
4.
State aid – Prohibition – Exceptions – Aid capable of being regarded as compatible with the internal market – Aid to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of a Member State – Assessment – Aid measure for an airline that is of importance for the national economy in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic – Assessment in the light of the Commission Communication on the Temporary Framework for State aid measures to support the economy in the COVID-19 pandemic – Aid measure consisting of a recapitalisation of the airline – Measure including a mechanism intended to incentivise repayment of the capital received – No error of assessment
(Art. 107(3)(b) TFEU; Commission Communication 2020/C 91 I/01, points 57, 61, 62 and 68)
(see paragraphs 43-48)
5.
State aid – Prohibition – Exceptions – Aid capable of being regarded as compatible with the internal market – Aid to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of a Member State – Assessment – Aid measure for an airline that is of importance for the national economy in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic – Assessment in the light of the Commission Communication on the Temporary Framework for State aid measures to support the economy in the COVID-19 pandemic – Aid measure consisting of a recapitalisation of the airline – Measure required to include a step-up mechanism to increase the remuneration of the State – Existence of an alternative mechanism arising from the overall structure of the recapitalisation measure – Manifest error of assessment
(Art. 107(3)(b) TFEU; Commission Communication 2020/C 91 I/01)
(see paragraphs 50-82)
6.
Action for annulment –Purpose – Partial annulment – Condition – Severability of the contested provisions – Objective criterion – Requirement not met
(Art. 263 TFEU)
(see paragraphs 83-88)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Annuls Commission Decision C(2020) 5750 final of 17 August 2020 on State Aid SA.57543 (2020/N) – Denmark and SA.58342 (2020/N) – Sweden – COVID-19 recapitalisation of SAS AB;
2.
Orders the European Commission to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by Ryanair DAC, with the exception of those related to the interventions;
3.
Orders the Kingdom of Denmark, the Kingdom of Sweden and SAS to bear their own costs and to pay those incurred by Ryanair as a result of their respective interventions.
(
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)	OJ C 242, 21.6.2021.