62023TJ0397_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 9 April 2025 –Ausnit, Olariu și Asociații v Commission
(Case T‑397/23)
(Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) – Grant agreement – Project ‘Setup and ITS connectivity of safe and secure truck parking areas in Romania along TEN-T core network corridors’ – Enforceable decision – Article 299 TFEU – Eligible costs – Failure to observe the principle of sound financial management in the award of contracts to third parties – Proportionality – Legitimate expectations)
1.
Action for annulment – Jurisdiction of the EU judicature – Scope – Judicial review of an enforceable decision of the Commission for the recovery of a claim – Jurisdiction to examine both the pleas challenging the legality of such a decision and those relating to the breach of contractual obligations giving rise to the adoption of such a decision
(Arts 263 and 299 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2018/1046, Art. 100(2))
(see paragraphs 31, 32)
2.
EU budget – EU financial assistance – Obligation on the beneficiary to comply with the conditions for grant of the assistance – Eligible costs – Conditions – Compliance with the principle of sound financial management in the award of contracts to third parties – Burden of proof
(Arts 310(5) and 317 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation No 966/2012, Art. 30)
(see paragraphs 46-49, 54, 57-60, 62-64)
3.
EU law – Principles – Protection of legitimate expectations – Conditions – Specific assurances given by the authorities
(see paragraphs 66-69)
4.
EU budget – EU financial assistance – Obligation on the beneficiary to comply with the conditions for grant of the assistance – Compliance with the principle of sound financial management in the award of contracts to third parties – None – Ineligible costs – Proceedings by the Commission for recovery of sums paid – Recovery of funding for costs considered ineligible by an audit report –Breach of the principles of proportionality and fairness – Absence
(Art. 5(4) TEU; Art. 317 TFEU)
(see paragraphs 77, 81-84, 106, 107, 110)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Ausnit, Olariu și Asociații SRL to pay the costs.