62022TJ0049_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Tenth Chamber) of 17 April 2024 –Romania v Commission
(Case T‑49/22) (
1
)
(EAGF and EAFRD – Expenditure excluded from financing – Expenditure incurred by Romania – Deficiencies in administrative checks – Overlap between two investigations – Article 34(6) of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 908/2014 – Fallow land and temporary grassland – Article 44 of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 – Obligation to state reasons – Proportionality – Error of assessment)
1.
Agriculture – EAGF and EAFRD financing – Clearance of accounts – Evaluation of the expenditure to be excluded from Union financing – Taking account of the information communicated by the Member State – Late and unjustified sending of the information – Justification – External factors – Concept – Overlap between two investigations – Not included
(Commission Regulation No 908/2014, Art. 34(6)(b))
(see paragraphs 41, 49, 50, 95, 150, 181)
2.
Agriculture – Common agricultural policy – Direct support schemes – Common rules – Payment for agricultural practices beneficial for the climate and the environment – Crop diversification – Fallow land and temporary grassland – Crop – Concept – Temporary grassland – Included – Application of greening thresholds based on crop diversification – Conditions
(European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1307/2013, Art. 44)
(see paragraphs 67-73, 76, 162-164)
3.
Agriculture – EAGF and EAFRD financing – Clearance of accounts – Definitive refusal to accept responsibility for certain expenses – Need for prior inter partes procedure – Disclosure of the Commission’s findings – Adaptation by invitation to a bilateral meeting – Modification of the legal basis of the Commission’s assertions in the context of the bilateral meeting – Whether permissible – Lack of clarity of the legal basis of the inquiry – None
(European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1307/2013, Art. 44; Commission Regulation No 908/2014, Art. 34)
(see paragraphs 83-85)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Romania to pay the costs.
(
1
)	OJ C 138, 28.3.2022.