62020TJ0753_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Fourth Chamber) of 14 December 2022 –Green Power Technologies v Commission
(Case T‑753/20) (
1
)
(Arbitration clause – Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007-2013) – Grant agreement – Eligible costs – OLAF report finding certain expenses incurred to be ineligible – Repayment of sums paid – Burden of proof – Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 – Obligation to state reasons – Unjust enrichment – Action for annulment – OLAF report – Act not open to challenge – Inadmissibility)
1.
Action for annulment – Actionable measures – Concept – Measures producing binding legal effects – Final report of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) concerning an external investigation and recommendation of the Director-General of OLAF as to the action to be taken by the national authorities – Not included – Forwarding to those authorities of information gathered in the context of that investigation – Not included
(Art. 263 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation No 883/2013, Recital 31 and Art. 11)
(see paragraphs 27-29, 31-33)
2.
Judicial proceedings – Application initiating proceedings – Formal requirements – Summary of the pleas in law on which the application is based – Abstract statement – Inadmissibility
(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 76(d))
(see paragraph 39)
3.
Judicial proceedings – Legal basis of an action – Choice for the applicant and not the EU judicature
(Arts 263 and 272 TFEU)
(see paragraph 50)
4.
EU budget – EU financial assistance – Obligation on the beneficiary to comply with the conditions for grant of the assistance – Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007-2013) – Grant agreement – Eligible costs – European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) investigation report finding certain expenses incurred to be ineligible – Financing covering only expenses actually incurred – Demonstration that the costs have actually been incurred – Allocation of the burden of proof
(Art. 317 TFEU)
(see paragraphs 66, 68, 71, 74, 85, 110, 133)
5.
EU budget – EU financial assistance – Obligation on the beneficiary to comply with the conditions for grant of the assistance – Financing covering only expenses actually incurred – Demonstration that the costs have actually been incurred – None – Ineligible costs – Proper technical implementation of projects forming the subject matter of EU financial assistance – Irrelevant
(Art. 317 TFEU)
(see paragraph 153)
6.
Industry – Actions necessary to ensure the competitiveness of industry – Research and technological development – Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007-2013) – (Key Digital Technologies) Joint Undertaking – Grant agreement – Request for refund – Obligation to state reasons for decisions – Scope – Assessment of the duty to state reasons by reference to the circumstances of the case
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Arts 41(2)(c) and 51(1))
(see paragraphs 195-197, 199, 200)
7.
Action for annulment – Pleas in law – Lack of or inadequate statement of reasons – Separate plea in law from the one concerning substantive legality
(Arts 263 and 296 TFEU)
(see paragraph 212)
8.
EU law – Principles – Principle of prohibition of unjust enrichment of the Union – Concept
(see paragraph 237)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Green Power Technologies, SL to bear its own costs and to pay the costs incurred by the European Commission;
3.
Orders the Kingdom of Spain to bear its own costs.
(
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)	OJ C 53, 15.2.2021.