62020TJ0533_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Fourth Chamber) of 14 December 2022 –Green Power Technologies v Key Digital Technologies Joint Undertaking
(Case T‑533/20) (
1
)
(Arbitration clause – Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007-2013) – Grant agreements – Eligible costs – OLAF report finding certain expenditure incurred to be ineligible – Recovery of sums paid – Burden of proof – Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 – Counterclaim)
1.
Judicial proceedings – Application initiating proceedings – Formal requirements – Summary of the pleas in law on which the application is based – Abstract statement – Inadmissibility
(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 76(d))
(see paragraph 31)
2.
Judicial proceedings – Legal basis of an action – Choice for the applicant and not the EU judicature
(Arts 263 and 272 TFEU)
(see paragraph 36)
3.
Industry – Action necessary to ensure the competitiveness of industry – Research and technological development – Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007-2013) – Key Digital Technologies Joint Undertaking – Exercise of powers – Obligation to respect fundamental rights, including in contractual matters
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 51(1))
(see paragraphs 47-49)
4.
EU law – Principles – Rights of the defence – Right to be heard – Scope
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41)
(see paragraphs 50-52, 67)
5.
Industry – Action necessary to ensure the competitiveness of industry – Research and technological development – Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007-2013) – Key Digital Technologies Joint Undertaking – Grant agreement – Request for refund – Obligation to state reasons for decisions – Scope – Assessment of the duty to state reasons by reference to the circumstances of the case
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(2)(c))
(see paragraphs 71-73)
6.
EU budget – EU financial assistance – Obligation on the beneficiary to comply with the conditions for grant of the assistance – Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007-2013) – Grant agreement – Eligible costs – European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) investigation report finding certain expenses incurred to be ineligible – Financing covering only expenses actually incurred – Demonstration that the costs have actually been incurred – Allocation of the burden of proof
(Art. 317 TFEU)
(see paragraphs 94-96, 99)
7.
EU budget – EU financial assistance – Obligation on the beneficiary to comply with the conditions for grant of the assistance – Financing covering only expenses actually incurred – Demonstration that the costs have actually been incurred – None – Ineligible costs – Proper technical implementation of projects forming the subject matter of EU financial assistance – Irrelevant
(Art. 317 TFEU)
(see paragraph 108)
8.
Judicial proceedings – Introduction of new pleas during the proceedings – Conditions – Amplification of an existing plea
(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 84(1))
(see paragraph 190)
9.
EU law – Principles – Protection of legitimate expectations – Conditions – Specific assurances given by the authorities
(see paragraph 206)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Allows the counterclaim brought by the Key Digital Technologies Joint Undertaking;
3.
Orders Green Power Technologies, SL to pay the Key Digital Technologies Joint Undertaking the sum of EUR 204 302.13 claimed by the latter in its counterclaim;
4.
Orders Green Power Technologies to pay the costs.
(
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)	OJ C 371, 3.11.2020.