62021TJ0068_INF
Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 27 April 2022 –QA v Commission
(Case T‑68/21) (
1
)
(Non-contractual liability – Grant agreement concluded in the context of the Seventh framework programme for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) – Audit report – Language – Sufficiently serious breach of a rule of law conferring rights on individuals – Proportionality – Principle of good administration)
1.
Judicial proceedings – Introduction of new pleas during the proceedings – Conditions – Amplification of an existing plea – Admissibility – Analogous solution for claims raised in support of a plea
(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 84(1))
(see paras 15, 16)
2.
Action for annulment – Admissibility – Dismissal of an action on the substance without ruling on admissibility – Discretion of the EU judicature
(Art. 263 TFEU)
(see para. 21)
3.
Non-contractual liability – Conditions – Unlawfulness – Damage – Causal link – Cumulative conditions – One of the conditions not satisfied – Claim for compensation dismissed in its entirety
(Art. 340, second para., TFEU)
(see paras 23-25, 62)
4.
Non-contractual liability – Conditions – Unlawfulness – Sufficiently serious breach of a rule of law intended to confer rights on individuals – Reduced or non-existent discretion of the EU institution when adopting the measure
(Art. 340, second para., TFEU)
(see paras 27, 29)
5.
Non-contractual liability – Conditions – Unlawfulness – Sufficiently serious breach of EU law – Requirement that the institutions manifestly and seriously disregard the limits of their discretion – Report drafted by the Commission following a financial audit in the context of a grant agreement for research, technological development and demonstration activities – Language used in the statements at issue – Breach of principle of proportionality – None – Infringement of the principle of sound administration – Absence – Unfounded pleas – Rejection
(Art. 340, second para., TFEU)
(see paras 40, 48-50, 56)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders QA to pay the costs.
(
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)	OJ C 138, 19.4.2021.