62023TJ0391_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 20 November 2024 –Imerys Aluminates Groupe v Commission
(Case T‑391/23) (
1
)
(Non-contractual liability – System for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading – Article 10a of Directive 2003/87/EC, as amended by Directive (EU) 2018/410 – Annex 1 to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/331 – Definition of benchmarks – Answers to frequently asked questions – Causal link)
1.
Actions for damages – Admissibility – Dismissal of an action on the substance without ruling on admissibility – Discretion of the EU judicature
(Art. 268 TFEU)
(see paragraph 24)
2.
Judicial proceedings – Time limit for producing evidence – Article 85(3) of the Rules of Procedure of the General Court – Submission of evidence before the oral part of the procedure is closed – Whether permissible – Conditions – Late submission that is justified – Additional evidence concerning legal developments produced after the written part of the procedure is closed – Admissibility
(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 85(3))
(see paragraphs 28, 29)
3.
Non-contractual liability – Conditions – Unlawfulness – Damage – Causal link – Cumulative conditions – One of the conditions not satisfied – Action for damages dismissed in its entirety
(Art. 340, second para., TFEU)
(see paragraphs 35, 36)
4.
Non-contractual liability – Conditions – Causal link – Damage suffered following the adoption by the Commission of non-binding frequently asked questions (FAQs) on free allocation rules for the emissions trading system – Commission decision accepting national measures applying a benchmark fallback as a basis in respect of the applicant – Legal situation of the applicant determined by that decision, not by the FAQs – No causal link
(Art. 340, second para., TFEU)
(see paragraphs 38, 39, 48, 63-67, 83, 84)
5.
Judicial proceedings – Introduction of new pleas during the proceedings – Conditions – No plea based on matters which have come to light in the course of the procedure – Amplification of an existing plea – No amplification – Inadmissibility
(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 84(1))
(see paragraphs 49, 50)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Imerys Aluminates Groupe to pay the costs.
(
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)	OJ C 314, 4.9.2023.