62021CJ0209_SUM
Case C‑209/21 P
Ryanair DAC
v
European Commission
Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 23 November 2023
(Appeal – State aid – Article 107(3)(b) TFEU – Swedish air transport market – Aid scheme notified by the Kingdom of Sweden – Loan guarantees to support airlines amid the COVID-19 pandemic – Temporary Framework for State aid measures – Decision by the European Commission not to raise objections – Aid intended to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy – Principles of proportionality and non-discrimination – Free provision of services)
EU law – Principles – Equal treatment – Discrimination on grounds of nationality – Prohibition under Article 18 TFEU – Subsidiary in nature to the specific rules on non-discrimination laid down in the FEU Treaty – Article 107(2) and (3) TFEU laying down such specific rules
(Arts 18, 52, 107(2) and (3) and 108 TFEU)
(see paragraphs 33-37)
Appeal – Grounds – Incorrect assessment of the facts and evidence – Inadmissibility – Review by the Court of Justice of the assessment of the facts and evidence – Possible only where the facts or evidence have been distorted – Requirement that the distortion be obvious from the documents in the file
(Art. 256(1), second subpara., TFEU; Statute of the Court of Justice, Art. 58, first para.; Rules of Procedure of the Court of Justice, Art. 168(1)(d))
(see paragraphs 42-45, 52, 55-57, 77, 116)
Action for annulment – Jurisdiction of the EU judicature – Interpretation of the reasoning of an administrative measure – Limits – EU judicature substituting its own reasoning for that of the person adopting the act – Not permissible
(Art. 263 TFEU)
(see paragraph 49)
Aid granted by a Member State – Prohibition – Derogations – Aid capable of being regarded as compatible with the internal market – Aid to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of a Member State – Loan guarantees to support airlines amid the COVID-19 pandemic – Loan guarantees reserved for airlines which hold a national licence – Aid compatible with the internal market pursuant to Article 107(3)(b) TFEU – Assessment of the aid in the light of the freedom to provide services – Conditions
(Art. 107(3)(b) TFEU)
(see paragraphs 31, 71-76)
Aid granted by a Member State – Prohibition – Derogations – Aid capable of being regarded as compatible with the internal market – Assessment in the light of Article 107(3)(b) TFEU – Criteria – Weighing the beneficial effects of the aid against its adverse effects on trading conditions and the maintenance of undistorted competition – Not a necessary criterion
(Art. 107(3)(b) and (c) TFEU)
(see paragraphs 84-89)
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 108(3) and 296, second para., TFEU)
(see paragraphs 94-101)
Aid granted by a Member State – Examination by the Commission – Preliminary review and main review – Commission’s duty to initiate the main review procedure in the event of serious difficulties – Circumstances enabling the existence of such difficulties to be established – Judicial review – Burden of proof
(Arts 107 and 108 TFEU; Council Regulation 2015/1589, Arts 4(3) and (4) and 6(1))
(see paragraphs 108-115)
See the text of the decision.