Case C-213/22, Instituto de Financiamento da Agricultura e Pescas (Reforestation measures): Judgment of the Court (Third Chamber) of 23 November 2023 (request for a preliminary ruling from the Supremo Tribunal Administrativo — Portugal) — Instituto de Financiamento da Agricultura e Pescas, IP v CS (Reference for a preliminary ruling — Common agricultural policy — Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) — Community aid scheme for forestry measures in agriculture — Regulation (EEC) No 2080/92 — Article 3, first paragraph, points (b) and (c) — Aid scheme — Maintenance premiums and premiums for loss of income — Conditions for granting — National legislation laying down a requirement of a minimum reforestation density of the plots — Failure to comply with the requirement for a reason not attributable to the beneficiary — Obligation to repay the aid — Force majeure — Principle of proportionality)
Date: 2023-11-23
Institutions: Court of Justice
Subjects: EAGGF, afforestation, aid to agriculture, common agricultural policy, eligibility criteria, farming sector, financial loss, principle of proportionality, wooded area








C_202400607EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
Series C













C/2024/607


15.1.2024





Judgment of the Court (Third Chamber) of 23 November 2023 (request for a preliminary ruling from the Supremo Tribunal Administrativo — Portugal) — Instituto de Financiamento da Agricultura e Pescas, IP v CS
(Case C-213/22, (1) Instituto de Financiamento da Agricultura e Pescas (Reforestation measures))
(Reference for a preliminary ruling - Common agricultural policy - Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) - Community aid scheme for forestry measures in agriculture - Regulation (EEC) No 2080/92 - Article 3, first paragraph, points (b) and (c) - Aid scheme - Maintenance premiums and premiums for loss of income - Conditions for granting - National legislation laying down a requirement of a minimum reforestation density of the plots - Failure to comply with the requirement for a reason not attributable to the beneficiary - Obligation to repay the aid - Force majeure - Principle of proportionality)
(C/2024/607)
Language of the case: Portuguese

Referring court

Supremo Tribunal Administrativo

Parties to the main proceedings


Applicant: Instituto de Financiamento da Agricultura e Pescas, IP

Defendant: CS

Operative part of the judgment

Points (b) and (c) of the first paragraph of Article 3 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2080/92 of 30 June 1992 instituting a Community aid scheme for forestry measures in agriculture and the principle of proportionality
must be interpreted as not precluding the imposition, on the beneficiary of maintenance premiums and premiums for loss of income paid in respect of a multi-annual undertaking to afforest agricultural land entered into by him or her, of an obligation to repay those premiums where a condition for the grant thereof laid down by national legislation, relating to the presence of a minimum reforestation density, is not satisfied during the implementation of that undertaking because of the occurrence of adverse weather conditions.


(1)  
            OJ C 266, 11.7.2022.


ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/607/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)