62022TJ0716_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 18 December 2024 –Administradora Fortaleza and Others v Commission (Madeira Free Zone)
(Case T‑716/22) (
1
)
(State aid – Madeira Free Zone – Aid scheme implemented by Portugal – Decision finding that the scheme does not comply with Decisions C(2007) 3037 final and C(2013) 4043 final, declaring it to be incompatible with the internal market and ordering the recovery of aid paid under that scheme – Action for annulment – Locus standi – Interest in bringing proceedings – Admissibility – Obligation to state reasons – Concept of ‘State aid’ – Concept of ‘existing aid’ within the meaning of Article 1(b)(ii) of Regulation (EU) 2015/1589 – No derogation from the condition relating to the creation or maintenance of jobs in the Autonomous Region of Madeira – Principle of sound administration – Principle of sincere cooperation – Recovery – Legitimate expectations – Legal certainty – Right to property)
1.
Action for annulment – Natural or legal persons – Measures of direct and individual concern to them – Commission decision finding an aid scheme to be partially incompatible with the internal market – Action brought by an undertaking having received individual aid granted under that scheme and that must be recovered – Admissibility
(Art. 263(4) TFEU)
(see paragraphs 19-24)
2.
Action for annulment – Natural or legal persons – Interest in bringing proceedings – Need for a vested and present interest – Assessment at the time when the action was brought – Action capable of securing a benefit for the applicant – Action brought by an undertaking receiving aid declared to be incompatible by the Commission – Action seeking to evade recovery of that aid – Admissibility
(Art. 263(4) TFEU)
(see paragraphs 27-30)
3.
Acts of the institutions – Statement of reasons – Obligation – Scope – Commission decision on State aid – Decision finding implementation of an aid scheme to be in breach of the conditions laid down in the approval decision – Decision containing the information necessary to enable the addressee to ascertain the reasons for its adoption – Sufficient statement of reasons
(Arts 107(3)(a), 108(3) and 296 TFEU, second para.; Council Regulation 2015/1589, Art. 1(b)(ii) and (c); Commission Decision 2022/1414, recitals 36, 62, 152 to 160, 167, 169, 171, 175, 176, 179, 213, 214 and 226, Arts 1 to 4)
(see paragraphs 37-64)
4.
Aid granted by a Member State – Examination by the Commission – Examination of an aid scheme as a whole – Whether permissible – Consequences – Commission able to limit itself to studying the characteristics of the scheme – Obligation for the national authorities to examine the individual situation of the recipients before proceeding to the recovery of an advantage
(Arts 107 and 108 TFEU)
(see paragraphs 70-72)
5.
Aid granted by a Member State – Existing aid and new aid – Classification as existing aid – Interpretation of the detailed rules for the aid scheme – Text of the authorisation decision, content of the notification made by the Member State concerned and further information
(Art. 108(3) TFEU; Council Regulation 2015/1589, Art. 1(c))
(see paragraphs 79, 81, 88, 89)
6.
Aid granted by a Member State – Prohibition – Exceptions – Notification of proposed aid – Duty of cooperation of the Member State seeking a derogation
(Article 4(3) TEU; Art. 108(3) TFEU; Council Regulation No 659/1999, recital 6)
(see paragraphs 80, 109)
7.
Aid granted by a Member State – Existing aid and new aid – Measure amending an existing aid scheme – Implementation of the scheme in derogation from one of the conditions laid down in the Commission’s approval decision – Derogation not validly notified to the Commission – Alteration affecting the substance of the scheme – Classification as new aid
(Arts 107(1) and (3)(a) and 108(3) TFEU; Council Regulation 2015/1589, Art. 1(b)(ii) and (c); Commission Decision 2022/1414, recitals 153, 156, 157, 159, 162, 167, 179, 180, 184 to 187, 191 to 198, 206 and 226, point 6.2)
(see paragraphs 92-105, 110, 114, 126, 127, 129-166)
8.
Aid granted by a Member State – Existing aid and new aid – Examination by the Commission of the notified aid scheme – Principle of good administration – Obligation of diligence and impartiality – Scope
(Art. 108(3) TFEU; Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41)
(see paragraphs 106-108)
9.
Aid granted by a Member State – Recovery of unlawful aid – Aid granted in breach of the procedural rules of Article 108 TFEU – Legitimate expectations entertained by the recipients – None save in exceptional circumstances – Assurances offered by the national authorities not arising from the Commission’s conduct – No legitimate expectations
(Art. 108(1) and (3) TFEU; Council Regulation 2015/1589, recital 25 and Art. 16(1) and (2); Commission Decision 2022/1414, recitals 181 to 207)
(see paragraphs 175-192, 195-197)
10.
Aid granted by a Member State – Formal investigation procedure – Obligation for the decision initiating that procedure to be accompanied by an order suspending the measure at issue – None
(Art. 108(1) and (3) TFEU; Council Regulation 2015/1589, recital 25 and Art. 16(1) and (2); Commission Decision 2022/1414, recitals 181 to 207)
(see paragraphs 193, 194, 210)
11.
Aid granted by a Member State – Recovery of unlawful and incompatible aid – Infringement of the principle of legal certainty or of the right to property – None
(Arts 107 and 108 TFEU; Commission Decision 2022/1414, recitals 1 to 9 and 96)
(see paragraphs 198-209, 211-219)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Administradora Fortaleza Ltda and the other applicants whose names are shown in the annex to pay the costs.
(
1
)	OJ C 35, 30.1.2023.