62022TO0588_INF
Order of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 18 October 2023 –Renco Valore and Seopult v Commission (Madeira Free Zone)
(Cases T‑588/22 and T‑660/22) (
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)
(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 – Concept of ‘existing aid’ within the meaning of Article 1(b)(ii) of Regulation (EU) 2015/1589 – Recovery – Legitimate expectations – Legal certainty – Additional pleas put forward by the intervener – Admissibility – Action manifestly lacking any foundation in law)
1.
Judicial proceedings – Intervention – Pleas different from those of the main party supported – Pleas not capable of being attached to those of the main party supported – Inadmissibility
(Statute of the Court of Justice, Art. 40, fourth para.; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 142(1))
(see paragraphs 29-33)
2.
Aid granted by a Member State – Existing aid and new aid – Measure amending an existing aid scheme – Implementation of the scheme in breach of the conditions laid down in the Commission’s approval decision – Alteration affecting the substance of the scheme – Classification as new aid
(Art. 108(3) TFEU; Council Regulation 2015/1589, Art. 1(c); Commission Notice 2006/C 54/08)
(see paragraphs 53-73, 76-82, 85, 97)
3.
Aid granted by a Member State – Recovery of unlawful aid – Aid granted in breach of the procedural rules of Article 108 TFEU – Possible legitimate expectation on the part of the recipient – None save in exceptional circumstances
(Art. 108(2) and (3) TFEU; Council Regulation 2015/1589, Art. 16)
(see paragraphs 107-121)
4.
Aid granted by a Member State – Recovery of unlawful and incompatible aid – No breach of the principle of legal certainty
(Art. 107 TFEU; Council Regulation 2015/1589, Art. 16(1))
(see paragraphs 122-143)
Operative part
1.
Cases T‑588/22 and T‑660/22 are joined for the purposes of the order.
2.
The actions are dismissed as manifestly lacking any foundation in law.
3.
Renco Valore SpA and Seopult LTD shall pay the costs.
4.
Grapevine Investimentos e Serviços, Lda (Zona Franca da Madeira) shall bear its own costs and pay those incurred by the European Commission relating to its intervention.
(
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)	OJ C 424, 7.11.2022.