62021TJ0225_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Tenth Chamber) of 18 October 2023 –Ryanair v Commission (Alitalia I; COVID-19)
(Case T‑225/21) (
1
)
(State aid – Italian air-transport market – Aid granted by Italy to an airline in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic – Direct grant – Decision not to raise any objections – Aid intended to make good the damage caused by an exceptional occurrence – Article 107(2)(b) TFEU – Consideration of earlier aid measures in favour of the same beneficiary which is the subject of pending formal investigations – Assessment of damages – Causal link – Principle of non-discrimination – Free provision of services – Freedom of establishment – Obligation to state reasons)
1.
Action for annulment – Admissibility – Dismissal of an action on the substance without ruling on admissibility – Discretion of the EU judicature
(Art. 263 TFEU)
(see paragraph 10)
2.
Aid granted by a Member State – Prohibition – Exceptions – Aid compatible with the internal market – Aid to make good the damage caused by natural disasters or exceptional occurrences – Direct grant to an airline to compensate it for the COVID-19 pandemic – Assessment in the light of Article 107(2)(b) TFEU – Commission decision finding that grant compatible with the internal market without opening the formal investigation procedure – No account taken of other pending formal investigation procedures unrelated to the COVID-19 pandemic – No misuse of powers
(Art. 107(2)(b) TFEU)
(see paragraphs 16-22)
3.
Aid granted by a Member State – Prohibition – Exceptions – Aid compatible with the internal market – Aid to make good the damage caused by natural disasters or exceptional occurrences – Direct grant to an airline to compensate it for the COVID-19 pandemic – Assessment in the light of Article 107(2)(b) TFEU – Taking into account of all relevant factors – Earlier aid measures in favour of the same beneficiary but pursuing different objectives – Lack of relevance of those measures
(Art. 108(2) and (3) TFEU; Council Regulation No 2015/1589, Art. 4(3) and (4))
(see paragraphs 23-32)
4.
Aid granted by a Member State – Prohibition – Exceptions – Aid compatible with the internal market – Aid to make good the damage caused by natural disasters or exceptional occurrences – Direct grant to an airline to compensate it for the COVID-19 pandemic – Assessment in the light of Article 107(2)(b) TFEU – Criteria – Proportionality of the aid – Assessment of the damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to the undertaking in receipt of the aid
(Art. 107(2)(b) TFEU)
(see paragraphs 45-60, 65-73, 76-79, 83-88, 92-95, 99-101)
5.
Aid granted by a Member State – Prohibition – Exceptions – Aid compatible with the internal market – Aid to make good the damage caused by natural disasters or exceptional occurrences – Direct grant to an airline to compensate it for the COVID-19 pandemic – Assessment in the light of Article 107(2)(b) TFEU – Assessment of compatibility with the principle of non-discrimination – Criteria – Objective of the aid – Need for the aid – Proportionality of the aid
(Art. 107(2)(b) TFEU)
(see paragraphs 105-123)
6.
Freedom to provide services – Provisions of the Treaty – Scope – Services in the transport sector within the meaning of Article 58(1) TFEU – Air transport services – Specific legal regime
(Arts 56, 58(1) and 100(2) TFEU)
(see paragraphs 124-126)
7.
Aid granted by a Member State – Prohibition – Exceptions – Aid compatible with the internal market – Aid to make good the damage caused by natural disasters or exceptional occurrences – Direct grant to an airline to compensate it for the COVID-19 pandemic – Aid compatible with the internal market pursuant to Article 107(2)(b) TFEU – Infringement of the freedom to provide services and the freedom of establishment – Absence
(Arts 58(1), 100(2) and 107(2)(b) TFEU)
(see paragraphs 127-129)
8.
Action for annulment – Natural or legal persons – Measures of direct and individual concern to them – Commission decision finding State aid compatible with the internal market without opening the formal investigation procedure – Action by parties concerned within the meaning of Article 108(2) TFEU – Identification of the subject matter of the action – Action designed to safeguard the procedural rights of the parties concerned – Pleas that may be put forward – Lack of independent content of such a plea in the present case
(Arts 108(2) and 263, fourth para., TFEU)
(see paragraphs 133-135)
9.
Aid granted by a Member State – Commission decision not to raise objections to an aid scheme – Obligation to state reasons – Scope – Account taken of the context and all the legal rules governing the matter
(Arts 107(2)(b) and 296 TFEU)
(see paragraphs 139-148)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Ryanair DAC to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by the European Commission;
3.
Orders the Italian Republic to bear its own costs.
(
1
)	OJ C 228, 14.6.2021.