62018TJ0478_INF
Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 13 January 2021 –Bezouaoui and HB Consultant v Commission
(Case T‑478/18)
(State aid – Construction plant driving safety training – Reimbursement of training in France by State-authorised collecting bodies (Organismes paritaires de collecte agréés, OPCAs) – Decision finding no State aid – Concept of State aid – Whether imputable to the State – Public control of resources)
1.
Action for annulment – Natural or legal persons – Measures of direct and individual concern to them – Decision of the Commission finding no State aid – Action by a competitor challenging the decision – Undertaking demonstrating that its market position significantly affected – Admissibility
(Arts 108(2) and (3) and 263, fourth para., TFEU)
(see paras 57-72)
2.
Judicial proceedings – Introduction of new pleas during the proceedings – Conditions – Plea based on matters which have come to light in the course of the procedure – None – Amplification of an existing plea – No amplification – Inadmissibility
(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 84(1))
(see para. 66)
3.
Judicial proceedings – Time limit for producing evidence – Article 85(3) of the Rules of Procedure of the General Court – Submission of evidence before the oral part of the procedure is closed – Whether permissible – Conditions – Delay – Justification
(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 85(3))
(see paras 78-81)
4.
State aid – Concept – Grant attributable to the State of an advantage by means of State resources – Reimbursement of expenses of certain training by State-authorised collecting bodies – No power to intervene by the State in reimbursement decisions of those bodies – No ex post review carried out by the State – Precluded
(Art. 107(1) TFEU)
(see paras 86-120, 128-143, 148-154)
Re:
Application under Article 263 TFEU for annulment in part of Commission Decision C(2018) 2075 final of 10 April 2018 on Case SA.46897 (2018/NN) – France presumed aid in respect of the funding of training for the certificat d’aptitude à la conduite d’engins de chantier en sécurité (Handling Equipment Safe Operation Certificate, CACES).
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders HB Consultant and Mr Hacène Bezouaoui to pay the costs.