62022CJ0329_SUM
Case C‑329/22
Zamestnik izpalnitelen direktor na Darzhaven fond ‘Zemedelie’
v
IW
(Request for a preliminary ruling from the Varhoven administrativen sad)
Judgment of the Court (Tenth Chamber) of 7 December 2023
(Reference for a preliminary ruling – Agriculture – European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) funding – Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 – Support for rural development – Article 29(3) – Organic farming – Financial support for organic in-conversion production – Concepts of ‘initial period’ and ‘conversion period’ – Regulation (EU) No 889/2008 – Organic farming – Minimum conversion period – Article 38(3) – Regulation (EU) No 834/2007 – Article 17 – Conversion)
Questions referred for a preliminary ruling – Jurisdiction of the Court – Identification of the relevant aspects of EU law – Dispute concerning an application for financial aid for the conversion of beehives to organic beekeeping – Scope of the examination
(267 TFEU, Commission Regulation No 889/2008, Arts 36(1), 37(1), and 38)
(see paragraphs 25-28)
Agriculture – Common agricultural policy – EAFRD financing – Support for rural development – Organic farming – Discretion of the Member States – National legislation limiting the possibility of receiving financial support for organic production during conversion to the minimum conversion period – Possibility for Member States to determine a maximum duration for the grant of support and to determine a shorter initial period corresponding to the period of conversion – Whether permissible
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 1305/2013, Art. 29(3); Council Regulation No 834/2007, Art. 17; Commission Regulation 889/2008, Art. 38(3) and (4))
(see paragraphs 38-41, 43-46, 51, operative part)
See the text of the decision.