62020CO0663_INF
Order of the Court (Sixth Chamber) of 3 March 2022 – SRB v Hypo Vorarlberg Bank
(Case C‑663/20 P) (
1
)
(Appeal – Article 182 of the Rules of Procedure of the Court – Banking union – Single Resolution Mechanism (SRM) – Single Resolution Fund (SRF) – Calculation of the 2017 ex ante contributions – Authentication of a decision of the Single Resolution Board (SRB) – Obligation to state reasons – Confidential data)
1.
EU law – Principles – Rights of the defence – Audi alteram partem rule – Compliance in the context of judicial proceedings – Scope – Plea in law raised of the Court’s own motion – Failure to authenticate a decision of the Single Resolution Board (SRB) establishing the ex ante contributions to the Single Resolution Fund (SRF) – Parties not requested to present their observations regarding that plea – Infringement of that principle
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 47)
(see paras 38-40, 42, 46-51, 57)
2.
Acts of the institutions – Statement of reasons – Obligation – Scope – Decision of the Single Resolution Board (SRB) establishing the ex ante contributions to the Single Resolution Fund (SRF) – Not necessary to include, in that decision, all figures necessary for verifying the accuracy of the calculation of the contribution – Weighing the obligation to state reasons against the general principle of protection of the commercial confidentiality of the institutions concerned – Legality of the provisions of Regulation 2015/63 concerning the method for the calculation of the ex ante contributions to the SFR
(Art. 296, second para., TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation No 806/2014; Commission Regulation 2015/63; European Parliament and Council Directive 2014/59)
(see paras 69-81)
3.
Action for annulment – rounds – Infringement of essential procedural requirements – Failure to authenticate a decision of the Single Resolution Board (SRB) establishing the ex ante contributions to the Single Resolution Fund (SRF) – Examination by the Court of its own motion
(Art. 263 TFEU)
(see para. 86)
4.
Acts of the institutions – Statement of reasons – Obligation – Scope – Decision of the Single Resolution Board (SRB) establishing the ex ante contributions to the Single Resolution Fund (SRF) – Disclosure by the SRB limited to part of the relevant information that could have been provided without compromising the commercial confidentiality of the institutions concerned – Insufficient statement of reasons – Annulment of the decision
(Art. 296, second para., TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation No 806/2014; Commission Regulation 2015/63; European Parliament and Council Directive 2014/59)
(see paras 99-106, operative part 2)
5.
Action for annulment – Judgment annulling a measure – Effects – Limitation by the Court – Decision of the Single Resolution Board (SRB) establishing the ex ante contributions to the Single Resolution Fund (SRF) – Effects of that decision maintained until it is replaced within a reasonable period – Justification on grounds of legal certainty
(Art. 264, second para., TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation No 806/2014; Commission Regulation 2015/63; European Parliament and Council Directive 2014/59)
(see paras 109-112, operative part 3)
Operative part
1.
The judgment of the General Court of the European Union of 23 September 2020, Hypo Vorarlberg Bank v SRB (T‑414/17, not published, EU:T:2020:437), is set aside.
2.
The decision of the Executive Session of the Single Resolution Board of 11 April 2017 on the calculation of the 2017 ex ante contributions to the Single Resolution Fund (SRB/ES/SRF/2017/05) is annulled, in so far as it concerns Hypo Vorarlberg Bank AG.
3.
The effects of the decision of the Executive Session of the Single Resolution Board of 11 April 2017 on the calculation of the 2017 ex ante contributions to the Single Resolution Fund (SRB/ES/SRF/2017/05), in so far as it concerns Hypo Vorarlberg Bank AG, are maintained until the entry into force, within a reasonable period which cannot exceed six months from the date of service of this order, of a new decision of the Single Resolution Board establishing the 2017 ex ante contribution to the Single Resolution Fund of that institution.
4.
The Single Resolution Board shall bear its own costs, both at first instance and on appeal, and shall pay the costs incurred by Hypo Vorarlberg Bank AG at first instance.
5.
Hypo Vorarlberg Bank AG shall bear its own costs relating to the appeal proceedings.
6.
There is no longer any need to adjudicate on the application submitted by the Kingdom of Spain for leave to intervene in support of the form of order sought by the Single Resolution Board.
(
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)	OJ C 44, 8.2.2021.