62022TJ0056_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Tenth Chamber) of 31 January 2024 –United Kingdom v Commission
(Case T‑56/22) (
1
)
(EAGF and EAFRD – Expenditure excluded from financing – Conformity clearance procedure – Action for annulment – Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union and from Euratom – Representation by a lawyer authorised to practise before a court of a Member State or of another State which is a party to the EEA Agreement – Locus standi – Admissibility – Active farmer – Concept of ‘group of natural or legal persons’)
1.
Action for annulment – Action brought by the United Kingdom against a Commission decision excluding from EU financing certain expenditure incurred by the Member States under the EAGF and the EAFRD – Admissibility criteria – Conformity clearance procedure that gave rise to the contested decision, which must have the same characteristics as the administrative procedures concerning EU law – Scope – Verification of compliance with EU law – Initiation of that procedure before the end of the transition period – Admissibility – Obligation of representation by an agent or a lawyer authorised to practise before a court of a Member State or of another State party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area – None
(Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union and Euratom, Arts 2, 4 and 92)
(see paragraphs 24, 25, 29, 30, 32-36, 39, 48)
2.
Action for annulment – Locus standi – Scope – Case regarding the legality of a decision concerning the United Kingdom adopted after the end of the transition period in administrative proceedings concerning EU law – Right of the United Kingdom to intervene or participate in the proceedings before the Court in the same way as a Member State
(Art. 263, fourth para., TFEU; Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union and from Euratom, Arts 90, second para., point (c) and 95(1) and (3))
(see paragraphs 49, 52, 54-56)
3.
Agriculture – Common agricultural policy – Direct support schemes – Common rules – Concept of ‘active farmer’ – Natural or legal persons, or groups of natural or legal persons, who carry out an activity included in the exclusion list – Not included – Group of natural or legal persons – Concept – Related companies – Included
(Art. 52 TEU; Arts 349 and 355 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulations No 1306/2013, Art. 60, and No 1307/2013, recital 10 and Arts 4(1)(a) and 9(1) and (2); Commission Regulation No 639/2014)
(see paragraphs 61-64, 69-71, 75, 76, 80-82, 89-91, 95-98, 102-105, 107‑111, 118)
4.
Acts of the institutions – Regulations – Regulation prescribing specific control measures – Non-implementation – Whether justified – Practical difficulties – Not permissible
(European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1307/2013, Art. 9(2))
(see paragraphs 112, 113)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to pay the costs.
(
1
)	OJ C 158, 11.4.2022.