Joined Cases C‑160/22 P and C‑161/22 P
European Commission
v
HB
Judgment of the Court (Third Chamber) of 26 September 2024
( Appeal – Public supply contracts – Irregularities in the procedure for the award of a public contract – European Commission recovery decision adopted after the signature of the contract – Legal nature – Decision not having effects exclusively in the context of that contract – Protection of the European Union’s financial interests – Administrative measures – Exercise of powers as a public authority – Action for annulment – Article 263 TFEU – Jurisdiction of the EU judicature )
1.        Action for annulment – Actionable measures – Meaning – Measures producing binding legal effects – Action relating to a dispute of an exclusively contractual nature – Lack of jurisdiction of the EU judicature – Inadmissibility
(Arts 263, 272 and 274 TFEU)
(see paragraphs 48-52)
2.        Action for annulment – Actionable measures – Meaning – Measures producing binding legal effects – Action concerning a dispute where there is a contract between the applicant and an institution – Legal effects falling outside of the contractual relationship and involving the exercise of the powers of a public authority – Decision penalising an irregularity committed before a contract was concluded and not relating to the performance of that contract – Decision intended to ensure the protection of the financial interests of the European Union – Included
(Article 263 TFEU)
(see paragraphs 57, 64, 65)
See the text of the decision.