62020TJ0134_INF
Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 2 March 2022 –Huhtamaki v Commission
(Case T‑134/20) (
1
)
(Access to documents – Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 – Documents relating to a State aid investigation – Advance tax agreements – Refusal of access – Exception relating to the protection of the commercial interests of a third party – Exception relating to the protection of the purpose of inspections, investigations and audits – General presumption of confidentiality – Not irrebuttable – Obligation to state reasons)
1.
Action for annulment – Jurisdiction of the EU judicature – Claim seeking that directions be issued to an institution – Inadmissibility
(Art. 263 TFEU)
(see para. 18)
2.
EU institutions – Right of public access to documents – Regulation No 1049/2001 – Exceptions to the right of access to documents – Protection of the purpose of inspections, investigations and audits – Scope – Application to administrative files relating to procedures for reviewing State aid – General presumption that the exception applies to the right of access to all the documents on the administrative file – Refusal to grant access
(European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1049/2001, Art. 4(2), 3rd indent)
(see paras 29-32, 34)
3.
EU institutions – Right of public access to documents – Regulation No 1049/2001 – Exceptions to the right of access to documents – Protection of the purpose of inspections, investigations and audits – Protection of commercial interests – General presumption of confidentiality – Rebuttable – Obligation to state reasons for a decision refusing to grant access – Scope
(Art. 296 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1049/2001, Art. 4(2))
(see paras 58-60, 62-64, 78, 79)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Annuls Commission Decision C(2019) 9417 final of 18 December 2019 rejecting the confirmatory application for access to documents relating to a State aid investigation made by Huhtamaki Sàrl pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents (OJ 2011 L 145, p. 43);
2.
Dismisses the action as to the remainder;
3.
Orders the European Commission to pay the costs.
(
1
)	OJ C 161, 11.5.2020.