62022CJ0011_SUM
Case C‑11/22
Est Wind Power OÜ
v
Elering AS
(Request for a preliminary ruling from the Tallinna Halduskohus)
Judgment of the Court (First Chamber) of 12 October 2023
(Reference for a preliminary ruling – Aid granted by Member States – Renewable energy subsidy – Construction of a wind farm – Communication from the Commission entitled ‘Guidelines on State aid for environmental protection and energy 2014-2020’ – Paragraph 19(44) and footnote 66 – Concepts of ‘start of works’, ‘construction works on the investment’, ‘other commitment that makes the investment irreversible’ and ‘necessary state authorisation for constructing the project’ – Type and intensity of the scrutiny that must be conducted by the competent national authority)
Questions referred for a preliminary ruling – Admissibility – Limits – Commission decision requiring national authorities to apply certain provisions of the Guidelines on State aid – National administrative measure applying those provisions of the guidelines – Questions referred for a preliminary ruling concerning the interpretation of those provisions – Admissible questions
(Art. 267 TFEU)
(see paragraphs 30-38)
Aid granted by Member States – Prohibition – Exceptions – Aid capable of being regarded as compatible with the internal market – Aid for protection of the environment – Guidelines on State aid for protection of the environment – Operating aid for the production of renewable energy – Concept of start of works – Assessment – Criteria – Concept covering the start of construction works on the investment and any other commitment that makes the investment irreversible – Concept implying the availability of the necessary state authorisation for constructing the project
(Art. 107(3) TFEU; Commission Communication 2014/C 200/01)
(see paragraphs 48-63, 65-73, operative part 1-3)
See the text of the decision.