62020TO0580_INF
Order of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 20 January 2021 –KC v Commission
(Case T‑580/20)
(Action for damages – State aid – Complaint – Failure to initiate the formal investigation procedure – Sufficiently serious breach of a rule of law conferring rights on individuals – Action manifestly lacking any foundation in law)
1.
Non-contractual liability – Conditions – Unlawfulness – Damage – Causal link – One of the conditions not satisfied – Claim for compensation dismissed in its entirety
(see paras 16, 17)
2.
Non-contractual liability – Conditions – Unlawfulness – Sufficiently serious breach of EU law – Requirement that the institutions manifestly and seriously disregard the limits of their discretion – Failure of the Commission to initiate the formal investigation procedure – No illegality capable of rendering the EU non-contractually liable
(see paras 18-21, 29, 30)
3.
State aid – Examination by the Commission – Preliminary review and main review – Difficulties of assessment – Commission’s duty to initiate the main review procedure – Serious difficulties – Decision not taken within a reasonable time
(Art. 108(2) and (3) TFEU)
(see paras 23-25)
Re:
Application based on Article 268 TFEU seeking compensation for the harm allegedly suffered by the applicant owing to the Commission’s failure to initiate, in a timely manner, the formal investigation procedure following the applicant’s State aid complaint (SA.46963).
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders KC to pay the costs.