62020CJ0153_INF
Judgment of the Court (Ninth Chamber) of 17 June 2021 –Lithuania v Commission
(Case C‑153/20 P) (
1
)
(Appeal – European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) – Expenditure excluded from EU financing – Expenditure incurred by the Republic of Lithuania – Regulation (EU) No 65/2011 – Administrative checks – On-the-spot check – Quality of checks – Quality of the applicants – Artificial conditions – Expenditure incurred through projects)
1.
Agriculture – EAFRD financing – Grant of aid and premiums – Obligation of Member States to organise an effective system of administrative controls and on-the-spot checks – Scope – Administrative checks ensuring effective verification of all the eligibility criteria of an application for support, including the quality of the applicants
(Commission Regulation No 65/2011, Arts 4 and 24)
(see paras 75, 76)
2.
Agriculture – EAFRD financing – Grant of aid and premiums – Obligation of Member States to organise an effective system of administrative controls and on-the-spot checks – Two types of control independent in character – On-the-spot checks on administrative aspects – Whether permissible
(Commission Regulation No 65/2011, Arts 24 and 26)
(see paras 116-119)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the appeal;
2.
Orders the Republic of Lithuania to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by the European Commission;
3.
Orders the Czech Republic to bear its own costs.
(
1
)	OJ C 215, 29.6.2020.