62021CO0665_INF
Order of the Court (Eighth Chamber) of 10 May 2023 –MKB Multifunds v Commission
(Case C‑665/21 P) (
1
)
(Appeal – Article 181 of the Rules of Procedure of the Court of Justice – State aid – Alleged State aid granted by a Member State in favour of a fund of funds – Preliminary examination of the European Commission – Decision of the Commission finding no State aid – Action for annulment – Admissibility – Regulation (EU) 2015/1589 – Article 1(h) – Concept of ‘interested party’)
1.
Appeal – Grounds – Incorrect assessment of the facts and evidence – Inadmissibility – Review by the Court of the assessment of the facts and evidence – Possible only where the clear sense of the evidence has been distorted – Ground of appeal alleging distortion of the clear sense of the evidence – Need to indicate precisely the evidence alleged to have been distorted and show the errors of appraisal which led to that distortion
(Art. 256(1), second subpara., TFEU; Statute of the Court of Justice, Art. 58, first para.)
(see paragraphs 33-35)
2.
Judicial proceedings – Introduction of new pleas during the proceedings – Conditions – Plea based on matters which have come to light in the course of the procedure – Absence
(Rules of Procedure of the Court of Justice, Arts 127(1) and 190)
(see paragraph 36)
3.
Aid granted by a Member State – Examination by the Commission – Administrative procedure – Party concerned within the meaning of Article 108(2) TFEU – Concept – Undertaking not in direct competition with the aid beneficiary – Necessity for that undertaking to demonstrate the specific effect of aid on its situation
(Art. 108(2) TFEU; Council Regulation 2015/1589, Art. 1(h))
(see paragraphs 48-51)
4.
Appeal – Grounds – Plea raised for the first time in the context of the appeal – New plea based on facts which came to light after the making of the General Court’s order – Inadmissibility
(Art. 256 TFEU; Statute of the Court of Justice, Art. 58; Rules of Procedure of the Court of Justice, Arts 127(1), 170(1) and 190(1))
(see paragraph 52)
5.
Action for annulment – Natural or legal persons – Measures of direct and individual concern to them – Individual concern – Criteria – Commission decision finding that there is no aid – Action by an undertaking not demonstrating that its market position was substantially affected – Inadmissibility
(Arts 108(2) and 263, fourth para., TFEU)
(see paragraph 58)
6.
Appeal – Grounds – Plea raised for the first time in the context of the appeal – Inadmissibility
(Rules of Procedure of the Court of Justice, Arts 170(1) and 190)
(see paragraph 59)
Operative part
1.
The appeal is dismissed as being, in part, manifestly inadmissible and, in part, manifestly unfounded.
2.
MKB Multifunds BV is ordered to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by the European Commission.
3.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands shall bear its own costs.
(
1
)	OJ C 11, 10.1.2022.