62022TJ0346_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 17 April 2024 –Föreningen Svenskt Landskapsskydd v Commission
(Case T‑346/22) (
1
)
(Environment – Swedish Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan 2021-2030 – Request for internal review – Article 10(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1367/2006 – Rejection of the request – Application for annulment – Error of assessment – Action for failure to act – No invitation to act – Inadmissibility)
1.
Action for annulment – Jurisdiction of the EU judicature – Claim for a declaratory judgment – Inadmissibility
(Art. 263 TFEU)
(see paragraphs 47-50)
2.
Plea of illegality – Scope – Measures the illegality of which may be pleaded – General measure providing the basis of the contested decision – Need for a legal connection between the contested measure and the contested general measure
(Art. 277 TFEU)
(see paragraphs 55-59)
3.
Environment – Aarhus Convention – Application to EU institutions – Ability of non-governmental organisations to request internal review of administrative acts in environmental matters – Statement of the grounds for re-examination – Action before the EU judicature concerning a decision to reject a request for review – Reliance on arguments and pleas not put forward in the request for review – Rejection
(Art. 263 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1367/2006, Arts 2(1)(h), 10 and 12)
(see paragraphs 68-70, 76-80)
4.
Environment – Aarhus Convention – Application to EU institutions – Ability of non-governmental organisations to request internal review of administrative acts in environmental matters – Statement of the grounds for re-examination – Need to indicate factors likely to raise doubts as to whether the measure in question well-founded – Obligation on the Commission to examine where such factors present – Scope – Request which does not identify the administrative act at issue – No obligation to offer the applicant the opportunity to clarify the subject matter of the request
(European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1367/2006, Arts 2(1)(h) and 10)
(see paragraphs 82-85)
5.
Action for failure to act – Position taken within the meaning of Article 265, second para., TFEU before the action brought – Concept – Commission decision rejecting a request for internal review under Regulation No 1367/2006 – Included
(Art. 265, second para., TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1367/2006, Arts 2(1)(h), 10(1))
(see paragraphs 94-97)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Föreningen Svenskt Landskapsskydd to bear, in addition to its own costs, the costs incurred by the European Commission;
3.
Orders the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union to bear their own costs.
(
1
)	OJ C 311, 16.8.2022.