62023CJ0414_SUM
Case C‑414/23
Metsä Fibre Oy
(Request for a preliminary ruling from the Helsingin hallinto-oikeus)
Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 15 May 2025
(Reference for a preliminary ruling – Scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading – Union Registry – Regulation (EU) No 389/2013 – Record of a surrender of such allowances in that registry – Finality of transactions – Article 40 – Reversal of finalised processes – Article 70 – Surrender under a provision of EU law subsequently invalidated by the Court of Justice – Impossibility, for the operator, to recover the allowances concerned for the period in question – Validity)
Environment – Atmospheric pollution – Directive 2003/87/EC – Scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading – Integrated system of registers of the Union and the Member States – Irrevocability of transactions entered in the register – Impossibility for the operator of an installation to recover allowances surrendered pursuant to an EU provision subsequently invalidated by the Courts of the European Union – Possibility for the operator concerned to exercise a right to recovery, restitution or damages under national law – Condition – No reversal, revocation or unwinding of the transaction entered in the registry – Validity with regard to the right to property
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 17; Commission Regulation No 389/2013, Arts 40 and 70; European Parliament and Council Directive 2003/87, Art. 19(1) and (3))
(see paragraphs 19, 20, 25-35, operative part)
Environment – Atmospheric pollution – Directive 2003/87 – Scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading – Integrated system of registers of the Union and the Member States – Reversal of finalised transactions initiated unintentionally or erroneously – Scope – Annulment of a finalised transaction on account of the invalidation of provisions of EU law by the Courts of the European Union – Not permissible
(Commission Regulation No 389/2013, Art. 70(1); European Parliament and Council Directive 2003/87, Art 19(1) and.(3))
(see paragraphs 21-24)
See the text of the decision.