62021TJ0102_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 10 May 2023 –Bastion Holding and Others v Commission
(Case T‑102/21) (
1
)
(State aid – Measures to support small and medium-sized enterprises in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak in the Netherlands – Decision not to raise any objections – Temporary framework for State aid measures – Obligation to state reasons)
1.
State aid – Prohibition – Exceptions – Aid capable of being regarded as compatible with the internal market – Aid to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of a Member State – Aid scheme seeking to grant support to undertakings for their fixed costs in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak – Financial support for small and medium-sized enterprises only – Assessment of the compatibility with the internal market – Criteria – Objective of the aid scheme – Proportionality of the aid
(Art. 107(3)(b) TFEU)
(see paragraphs 26-31, 33-36)
2.
Judicial proceedings – Introduction of new pleas during the proceedings – Plea raised for the first time at the reply stage – Inadmissibility
(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 84(2))
(see paragraph 43)
3.
State aid – Prohibition – Exceptions – Aid capable of being regarded as compatible with the internal market – Aid to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of a Member State – Aid scheme seeking to grant support to undertakings for their fixed costs in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak – Financial support entailing a difference in treatment between certain undertakings – Justification – Breach of the principle of equal treatment – None
(Art. 107(3)(b) TFEU)
(see paragraphs 46-54)
4.
State aid – Prohibition – Exceptions – Aid capable of being regarded as compatible with the internal market – Aid to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of a Member State – Aid measure that does not make good the entirety of the damage caused by the exceptional occurrence – Whether permissible
(Art. 107(3)(b) TFEU)
(see paragraphs 55, 57)
5.
State aid – Commission decision not to raise objections to an aid scheme – Obligation to state reasons – Scope – Consideration of the context and all the legal rules governing the matter
(Arts 107(3)(b) and 296 TFEU)
(see paragraphs 64-70)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Bastion Holding BV and the other applicant parties whose names are listed in the annex to bear their own costs and to pay those incurred by the European Commission;
3.
Orders the Kingdom of the Netherlands to bear its own costs.
(
1
)	OJ C 182, 10.5.2021.