ISSN 1725-2423 doi:10.3000/17252423.C_2011.282.eng |
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Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282 |
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English edition |
Information and Notices |
Volume 54 |
Notice No |
Contents |
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IV Notices |
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NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES |
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Court of Justice of the European Union |
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2011/C 282/01 |
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IV Notices
NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES
Court of Justice of the European Union
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/1 |
2011/C 282/01
Last publication of the Court of Justice of the European Union in the Official Journal of the European Union
Past publications
These texts are available on:
EUR-Lex: http://eur-lex.europa.eu
V Announcements
COURT PROCEEDINGS
Court of Justice
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/2 |
Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Oberlandesgericht Frankfurt am Main (Germany), lodged on 20 June 2011 — Chemische Fabrik Kreussler & Co. GmbH v John O. Butler GmbH
(Case C-308/11)
2011/C 282/02
Language of the case: German
Referring court
Oberlandesgericht Frankfurt am Main
Parties to the main proceedings
Appellant: Chemische Fabrik Kreussler & Co. GmbH
Respìondent: John O. Butler GmbH
Questions referred
1. |
For the purpose of defining the term ‘pharmacological action’ in Article 1(2)(b) of Directive 2001/83/EC, (1) as amended by Directive 2004/27/EC, (2) can recourse be had to the document compiled under the auspices of the European Commission to provide guidance in distinguishing between medicinal products and medical devices (the ‘Medical Devices: Guidance document’), which states that there must be an interaction between the molecules of the substance in question and a cellular constituent, usually referred to as a receptor, which either results in a direct response or blocks the response of another agent? |
2. |
If the first question is answered in the affirmative: does the term ‘pharmacological action’ require that there should be an interaction between the molecules of the substance in question and cellular constituents of the user, or is it sufficient if there is an interaction between the substance in question and a cellular constituent which does not form part of the human body? |
3. |
In the event that the first question is answered in the negative or that neither of the two definitions proposed in the second question is appropriate: which alternative definition should be used instead? |
(1) Directive 2001/83/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 November 2001 on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use (OJ 2001 L 311, p. 67).
(2) Directive 2004/27/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 amending Directive 2001/83/EC on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use (OJ 2004 L 136, p. 34).
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/2 |
Reference for a preliminary ruling from First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) (United Kingdom) made on 20 June 2011 — Grattan plc v The Commissioners of Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs
(Case C-310/11)
2011/C 282/03
Language of the case: English
Referring court
First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber)
Parties to the main proceedings
Applicant: Grattan plc
Defendant: The Commissioners of Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs
Question referred
In relation to the period before 1 January 1978, does a taxable person have a directly effective right under Article 8(a) of the Second Council Directive of 11 April 1967 (67/228/EEC (1)), and/or the principles of fiscal neutrality and of equal treatment, to treat the basis of assessment of a supply of goods as retrospectively reduced where, after the time of that supply of goods, the recipient of the supply received a credit from the supplier which the recipient then elected either to take as a payment of money, or as a credit against amounts owed to the supplier in respect of supplies of goods to the recipient that had already taken place?
(1) Second Council Directive 67/228/EEC of 11 April 1967 on the harmonisation of legislation of Member States concerning turnover taxes — Structure and procedures for application of the common system of value added tax
OJ 71, p. 1303
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/3 |
Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Juzgado de lo Mercantil de A Coruña (Spain) lodged on 28 June 2011 — Germán Rodríguez Cachafeiro and Maria Reyes Martínez-Reboredo Varela-Villamayor v Iberia Líneas Aéreas de España S.A.
(Case C-321/11)
2011/C 282/04
Language of the case: Spanish
Referring court
Juzgado de lo Mercantil de A Coruña
Parties to the main proceedings
Applicants: Germán Rodríguez Cachafeiro and Maria Reyes Martínez-Reboredo Varela-Villamayor
Defendant: Iberia Líneas Aéreas de España S.A.
Question referred
May the definition of ‘denied boarding’ contained in Article 2(j), in conjunction with Article 3(2) and 4(3), of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, (1) be regarded as including a situation in which an airline refuses to allow boarding because the first flight included in the ticket is subject to a delay ascribable to the airline and the latter erroneously expects the passengers not to arrive in time to catch the second flight, and so allows their seats to be taken by other passengers?
(1) Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 February 2004
establishing common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding and of cancellation or long delay of flights, and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 295/91 (Text with EEA relevance) — Commission Statement; OJ 2004 L 46, p. 1.
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/3 |
Action brought on 22 June 2011 — European Commission v Kingdom of Denmark
(Case C-323/11)
2011/C 282/05
Language of the case: Danish
Parties
Applicant: European Commission (represented by: I. Hadjiyiannis and U. Nielsen, acting as Agents)
Defendant: Kingdom of Denmark
Form of order sought
— |
declare that, by failing to publish the final river basin management plans by 22 December 2009 and by failing to send the Commission copies thereof by 22 March 2010 and, in any event, by failing to inform the Commission thereof, the Kingdom of Denmark has failed to fulfil its obligations under Directive 2000/60/EC (1) of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy; |
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order the Kingdom of Denmark to pay the costs. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
Article 13(1), (2) and (6) of the Directive provides that the Member States were to adopt the laws and administrative provisions necessary to comply with the Directive by 22 December 2009 and to send the Commission copies thereof by 22 March 2010.
Since the Commission is not in possession of any information which enables it to establish that the necessary provisions have been adopted, the Commission must proceed on the assumption that Denmark has not yet adopted those provisions and has therefore failed to fulfil its obligations under the Directive.
(1) OJ 2000 L 327, p. 1, 22.12.2000.
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/3 |
Reference for a preliminary ruling from the A Magyar Köztársaság Legfelsőbb Bírósága (Hungary) lodged on 29 June 2011 — Gábor Tóth v Nemzeti Adó- és Vámhivatal Észak-magyarországi Regionális Adó Főigazgatósága, as successor to Adó- és Pénzügyi Ellenőrzési Hivatal Hatósági Főosztály Észak-magyarországi Kihelyezett Hatósági Osztály
(Case C-324/11)
2011/C 282/06
Language of the case: Hungarian
Referring court
A Magyar Köztársaság Legfelsőbb Bírósága (Supreme Court of the Republic of Hungary)
Parties to the main proceedings
Appellant: Gábor Tóth
Respondent: Nemzeti Adó- és Vámhivatal Észak-magyarországi Regionális Adó Főigazgatósága, as successor to Adó- és Pénzügyi Ellenőrzési Hivatal Hatósági Főosztály Észak-magyarországi Kihelyezett Hatósági Osztály
Questions referred
1. |
Is the principle of tax neutrality (Article 9 of Council Directive 2006/112/EC (1) of 28 November 2006 on the common system of value added tax) infringed by a legal interpretation which prevents the addressee of an invoice from exercising his right to deduct where the operator who issued it has, prior to full performance of the contract or issue of the invoice, had his business operator’s licence withdrawn by the municipal authority? |
2. |
Can the fact that the individual operator who issued the invoice has not declared the workers whom he employs (who, as a result, work ‘in the black economy’), and the fact that, for that reason, the tax authority has found that the said operator ‘has no declared workers’, prevent the addressee of that invoice from exercising the right to deduct, having regard to the principle of tax neutrality? |
3. |
Can it be held that the addressee of the invoice is guilty of a lack of care when he does not verify either whether a legal relationship exists between the workers employed on a work site and the issuer of the invoice or whether the latter has fulfilled his tax-return obligations or any other obligations relating to those workers? Can it be held that such conduct constitutes an objective factor which demonstrates that the addressee of the invoice knew or ought to have known that he was participating in a transaction involving fraudulent evasion of VAT? |
4. |
Having regard to the principle of tax neutrality, can the national court take the above circumstances into consideration when its overall assessment leads it to the conclusion that the economic transaction did not take place between the persons specified on the invoice? |
(1) Council Directive 2006/112/EC of 28 November 2006 on the common system of value added tax (OJ 2006 L 347, p. 1).
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/4 |
Action brought on 30 June 2011 — European Commission v Slovak Republic
(Case C-331/11)
2011/C 282/07
Language of the case: Slovak
Parties
Applicant: European Commission (represented by: A. Marghelis and A. Tokár, acting as Agents)
Defendant: Slovak Republic
Forms of order sought
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declare that, by authorising the operation of the Žilina — Považský Chlmec waste site without a conditioning plan for the waste site and without adopting a definite decision on whether operations might continue on the basis of the said conditioning plan, the Slovak Republic has failed to fulfil its obligations under Article 14(a), (b) and (c) of Council Directive 1999/31/EC of 26 April 1999 on the landfill of waste (1) |
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order the Slovak Republic to pay the costs. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
The Žilina — Považský Chlmec waste site is operated without any conditioning plan having been submitted and without the approval of any measures which might be needed on the basis of such a plan. The Commission therefore submits that the Court should declare that, by authorising the operation of the Žilina — Považský Chlmec waste site without a conditioning plan for the waste site and without adopting a definite decision on whether operations might continue on the basis of the said conditioning plan, the Slovak Republic has failed to fulfil its obligations under Article 14(a), (b) and (c) of Council Directive 1999/31/EC of 26 April 1999 on the landfill of waste.
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/4 |
Appeal brought on 29 June 2011 by Lancôme parfums et beauté & Cie against the judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) delivered on 14 April 2011 in Case T-466/08: Lancôme parfums et beauté & Cie v Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs), Focus Magazin Verlag GmbH
(Case C-334/11 P)
2011/C 282/08
Language of the case: English
Parties
Appellant: Lancôme parfums et beauté & Cie (represented by: A. von Mühlendahl, J. Pagenberg, Rechtsanwälte)
Other parties to the proceedings: Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs), Focus Magazin Verlag GmbH
Form of order sought
The appellant requests the Court of Justice to decide as follows:
— |
The judgment of the General Court of 14 April 2011 in Case T-466/08 an the decision of the First Board of Appeal of the Office of 29 July 2008 in Case R 1796/2007-1 are annulled. |
— |
The costs of the proceedings before the Board of Appeal of the Office, before the General Court and before this court shall be borne by the Office and by the Intervener. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
The Appellant claims that the contested judgment must be annulled because the General Court violated Article 43 (2) and (3) CTMR and committed legal error in deciding that in the contested case the five-year period following registration within which the earlier German mark FOCUS on which the opposition against the CTM application for ACNO FOCUS was based must be put to genuine use did not begin to run until 13 January 2004.
The Appellant does not challenge the finding of likelihood of confusion. While the Appellant disagrees with the finding, the Appellant considers that the General Court did not commit any error of law.
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/5 |
Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Tribunal d’Instance, Paris (France) lodged on 4 July 2011 — Thomson Sales Europe SA v Administration des Douanes (National Directorate for Customs Intelligence and Investigations)
(Case C-348/11)
2011/C 282/09
Language of the case: French
Referring court
Tribunal d’Instance, Paris
Parties to the main proceedings
Applicant: Thomson Sales Europe SA
Defendant: Administration des Douanes (National Directorate for Customs Intelligence and Investigations)
Questions referred
1. |
Is the investigation carried out by OLAF in Thailand and initiated on the basis of provisions concerning preferential origin invalid since it is contrary to international law, namely to the principle of full sovereignty and the Declaration on the Inadmissibility of Intervention in the Domestic Affairs of States and the Protection of Their Independence and Sovereignty of the UN General Assembly of 21 December 1965? |
2. |
Is the investigation carried out by OLAF in Thailand and initiated on the basis of provisions concerning preferential origin invalid where, as in the present case, OLAF did not strictly comply with Article 94 of the regulation implementing the Community Customs Code? |
3. |
Is the investigation carried out by OLAF in Thailand invalid and may the information collected during OLAF’s investigation be used to challenge the origin applicable under ordinary law when:
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4. |
Are Council Regulation (EC) No 710/95 of 27 March 1995 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of colour television receivers originating in Malaysia, the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, Singapore and Thailand (2) and amending Council Regulation No 2584/98 of 27 November 1998 (3) invalid because the application of zeroing in determining the weighted average dumping margin was referred to neither in their preambles nor in the preamble to the previous regulation, Commission Regulation (EC) No 2376/94 of 27 September 1994 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of colour television receivers originating in Malaysia, the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, Singapore and Thailand (4)? |
5. |
Are Council Regulation (EC) No 710/95 of 27 March 1995 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of colour television receivers originating in Malaysia, the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, Singapore and Thailand and amending Council Regulation No 2584/98 of 27 November 1998 invalid in so far as the Council of the European Union applied, for the purposes of determining the dumping margin for the product covered by the investigation, the zeroing method to the negative dumping margins for each type of product concerned? |
(1) Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 May 1999 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) (OJ 1999 L 136, p. 1).
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/5 |
Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Tribunal de Première Instance de Liège (Belgium) lodged on 4 July 2011 — Auditeur du Travail v Yangwei SPRL
(Case C-349/11)
2011/C 282/10
Language of the case: French
Referring court
Tribunal de Première Instance de Liège
Parties to the main proceedings
Applicant: Auditeur du Travail
Defendant: Yangwei SPRL
Question referred
Must Clause 5.1(a) of the Framework Agreement on part-time work concluded by UNICE, CEEP and the ETUC, annexed to Council Directive 97/81/EC of 15 December 1997 concerning the Framework Agreement on part-time work concluded by UNICE, CEEP and the ETUC (1), be interpreted as precluding national legislation such as:
— |
The obligation to keep a copy of the part-time employment contract or an extract, containing the work schedule, identity and signature of the two parties at the place where the rules governing employment can be consulted (Article 157 of the Programme Law); |
— |
The obligation that it must be possible to ascertain at any time when the cycle commences (Article 158 of the Programme Law); |
— |
As regards variable work schedules, the obligation for the employer to notify the worker by notice five days in advance; a notice must furthermore be displayed at the beginning of the day containing the individual work schedule of each part-time worker; this notice must furthermore be retained for one year (Article 159 of the Programme Law); |
— |
The obligation for an employer who employs part-time workers to have a document recording all the departures from work schedules referred to in Articles 157 to 159 (Article 160 of the Programme Law), a document that must be kept in accordance with certain conditions specified in Article 161 of the Programme Law? |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/6 |
Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Rechtbank van eerste aanleg te Antwerpen (Belgium) lodged on 4 July 2011 — Argenta Spaarbank NV v Belgische Staat
(Case C-350/11)
2011/C 282/11
Language of the case: Dutch
Referring court
Rechtbank van eerste aanleg te Antwerpen
Parties to the main proceedings
Applicant: Argenta Spaarbank NV
Defendant: Belgische Staat
Question referred
Does Article 43 EC [now Article 49 TFEU] preclude national tax legislation pursuant to which, for the purposes of the calculation of its taxable profit, a company subject to unlimited tax liability in Belgium cannot apply a deduction in respect of risk capital in the amount of the positive difference between (i) the net book value of the assets of the establishments that that company runs in another Member State of the European Union and (ii) the total liabilities that are imputable to those establishments, whereas it can apply a deduction in respect of risk capital if that positive difference can be imputed to a permanent establishment located in Belgium?
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/6 |
Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Rechtbank van eerste aanleg te Antwerpen (Belgium) lodged on 4 July 2011 — KGH Belgium NV v Belgische Staat
(Case C-351/11)
2011/C 282/12
Language of the case: Dutch
Referring court
Rechtbank van eerste aanleg te Antwerpen
Parties to the main proceedings
Applicant: KGH Belgium NV
Defendant: Belgische Staat
Question referred
1. |
Is Article 217(2) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code (OJ 1992 L 302, p. 1) to be interpreted as meaning that, when determining the practical procedures for the entry in the accounts of the amounts of duty, the Member States can confine themselves to including in their national legislation provisions stipulating merely:
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2. |
Is Article 217(2) of the Community Customs Code to be interpreted as meaning that, where national legislation merely provides:
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3. |
On the assumption that the entry by the customs authorities of the amount of duty on a 1552 B form may be deemed to constitute an entry in the accounts within the meaning of Article 217(1) of the Community Customs Code, is Article 217 of the Community Customs Code to be interpreted as meaning that only the entry on a 1552 B form of the precise amount of the duty arising pursuant to a customs debt constitutes an entry in the accounts within the meaning of Article 217(1) of the Community Customs Code? |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/7 |
Appeal brought on 6 July 2011 by Maurice Emram against the judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) delivered on 10 May 2011 in Case T-187/10 Emram v OHIM
(Case C-354/11 P)
2011/C 282/13
Language of the case: French
Parties
Appellant: Maurice Emram (represented by: M. Benavï, avocat)
Other parties to the proceedings: Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs), Guccio Gucci Spa
Form of order sought
— |
set aside the entire judgment of the General Court in that it dismissed the action for annulment of the decision of 11 February 2010 of the First Board of Appeal of OHIM; |
— |
set aside the decision of the Board of Appeal under Article 61 of the Statute of the Court of Justice; |
— |
order OHIM to pay the costs of the proceedings before the General Court and the Court of Justice, and order the company Gucci to pay the costs of the proceedings before OHIM and the General Court. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
The appellant submits that there has been infringement of Article 8(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 40/94 of 20 December 1993 on the Community trade mark, (1) and also infringement of Article 17 of Council Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 of 26 February 2009 on the Community trade mark. (2)
The appellant submits in that regard, first, that the General Court found that there was a likelihood of confusion without taking into account all the relevant aspects of the present case, including the non-use of earlier marks on the market, the taking into account of the distinctive character of the earlier marks, the actual presence on the market of other products of the same type bearing different ‘G’ signs, and the level of importance accorded by the relevant public to that type of sign to identify a commercial mark. The appellant further submits that the General Court found that there had been an incorrect assessment of the similarity between the conflicting marks resulting, inter alia, from a distortion of the facts, an incorrect assessment of the distinctive and dominant character of the earlier marks and an incorrect assessment of the nature of the products at issue.
The appellant submits, second, that there was an incorrect application of the case-law by the General Court, in that it failed to take account of earlier national decisions, in disregard of Article 17 of Regulation No 207/2009.
Lastly, the appellant submits that there has been infringement of the principle of equal treatment by the General Court in that it conducted a partial assessment of the similarity between the signs, whilst ignoring the word content of the mark applied for and comparing the signs on the basis of excessively broad criteria.
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/8 |
Reference for a preliminary ruling from the College van Beroep voor het Bedrijfsleven (Netherlands) lodged on 6 July 2011 — G. Brouwer v Staatssecretaris van Economische Zaken, Landbouw en Innovatie
(Case C-355/11)
2011/C 282/14
Language of the case: Dutch
Referring court
College van Beroep voor het Bedrijfsleven
Parties to the main proceedings
Appellant: G. Brouwer
Respondent: Staatssecretaris van Economische Zaken, Landbouw en Innovatie
Questions referred
1. |
Must Directive 91/629/EEC (1) be interpreted as meaning that the management requirements within the meaning of Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 (2) arising out of that directive are also applicable to calves which are kept confined by a farmer in the context of a dairy farming operation? |
2. |
If that question is answered in the negative, does the fact that a Member State has implemented that directive by means of legislation which declares the aforementioned requirements to be nevertheless applicable to such calves, give grounds, in the event of an infringement of those requirements in that Member State, for deeming a reduction or exclusion under Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 to be necessary? |
(1) Council Directive of 19 November 1991 laying down minimum standards for the protection of calves (OJ 1991 L 340, p. 28).
(2) Council Regulation of 29 September 2003 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers and amending Regulations (EEC) No 2019/93, (EC) No 1452/2001, (EC) No 1453/2001, (EC) No 1454/2001, (EC) 1868/94, (EC) No 1251/1999, (EC) No 1254/1999, (EC) No 1673/2000, (EEC) No 2358/71 and (EC) No 2529/2001 (OJ 2003 L 270, p. 1).
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/8 |
Action brought on 8 July 2011 — European Commission v Kingdom of Spain
(Case C-360/11)
2011/C 282/15
Language of the case: Spanish
Parties
Applicant: European Commission (represented by: L. Lozano Palacios, Agent)
Defendant: Kingdom of Spain
Form of order sought
The applicant claims that the Court should:
— |
declare that, by applying a reduced rate of VAT to:
the Kingdom of Spain has failed to fulfil its obligations under Article 98 of Council Directive 2006/112/EC (1) of 28 November 2006 on the common system of value added tax, in conjunction with Annex III thereto; |
— |
order the Kingdom of Spain to pay the costs. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
The Commission considers that the system of reduced rates laid down in paragraph 1(5) and (6) of the first section of Article 91 and paragraph 1(3) of the second section of the Spanish Law on VAT goes beyond what is authorised by the VAT Directive, since it surpasses the possibilities granted to the Member States in categories 3 and 4 of Annex III to that directive. The interpretation of the Spanish authorities is at odds with the wording and general scheme of the directive and is not in line with the case-law, pursuant to which exceptions to the general rules of the common VAT system must be interpreted strictly.
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/9 |
Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Rechtbank Haarlem (Netherlands), lodged on 8 July 2011 — Hewlett-Packard Europe BV v Inspecteur van de Belastingdienst/Douane West, kantoor Hoofddorp Saturnusstraat
(Case C-361/11)
2011/C 282/16
Language of the case: Dutch
Referring court
Rechtbank Haarlem
Parties to the main proceedings
Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Europe BV
Defendant: Inspecteur van de Belastingdienst/Douane West, kantoor Hoofddorp Saturnusstraat
Questions referred
1. |
In the light of its examination … concerning print and copying speeds, the Rechtbank requests the Court of Justice to provide it with further guidance on the answer to the question of the significance to be attached to a situation in which the print and copying speeds are determined by the same printing unit and the difference in speed between those functions is attributable solely to the fact that a document to be copied must first be scanned before printing can take place. |
2. |
In the light of its examination … concerning the number of paper trays and the presence of a sheet feeder, the Rechtbank requests the Court of Justice to clarify whether its guidance in the judgment in Joined Cases C-362/07 and C-363/07 Kip Europe and Others [2008] ECR I-9489 in that connection must be interpreted as meaning that the presence of more than one paper tray and a sheet feeder are objective characteristics which indicate that the device concerned is a copying device rather than a printing unit. |
3. |
In the light of its examination … concerning the appraisal of the question as to what is the essential characteristic of the devices here at issue, in the light of, inter alia, the criteria laid down by the Cour d’appel de Paris in its judgment of 20 May 2010 in this matter with regard to devices similar to those here at issue, the Rechtbank requests the Court of Justice to provide it with further guidance on the question whether the value and weight of the central printing unit (the print engine) must be attributed to the print function or to the copying function and whether the value and weight of the scanner must be fully or partly attributed to the copying function. |
4. |
In the light of the examination carried out by the Rechtbank, is the rate of customs duty of 6 % specified for CN code 8443 31 91 by Regulation No 1031/2008 (1) valid in so far as it applies to MFPs [multifunctional printers] which, according to the guidance given by the Court of Justice in its judgment in Joined Cases C-362/07 and C-363/07 Kip Europe and Others, ought to have been classified under CN code 8471 60 20 if they were imported before 1 January 2007? |
(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1031/2008 of 19 September 2008 amending Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff (OJ 2008 L 291, p. 1).
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/9 |
Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Tribunal Judicial de Santa Maria da Feira (Portugal) lodged on 8 July 2011 — Serafim Gomes Oliveira v Lusitânia Companhia de Seguros SA
(Case C-362/11)
2011/C 282/17
Language of the case: Portuguese
Referring court
Tribunal Judicial de Santa Maria da Feira
Parties to the main proceedings
Applicant: Serafim Gomes Oliveira
Defendant: Lusitânia Companhia de Seguros SA
Question referred
Is the provision of Portuguese law requiring compensation to be reduced in proportion to the fault of both parties in the accident in question, which occurred in November 2006 between a bicycle and a passenger vehicle with compulsory motor insurance, consistent with Community law, even though the cyclist was less than 20 % at fault?
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/10 |
Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Tribunal de Pequena Instância Cível de Lisboa (Portugal) lodged on 8 July 2011 — João Nuno Esteves Coelho dos Santos v TAP Portugal
(Case C-365/11)
2011/C 282/18
Language of the case: Portuguese
Referring court
Tribunal de Pequena Instância Cível de Lisboa
Parties to the main proceedings
Applicant: João Nuno Esteves Coelho dos Santos
Defendant: TAP Portugal
Question referred
As a result of the judgment of the Court of Justice of 19 November 2009 in Joined Cases C-402/07 and C-432/07 (1), in which it was held that Articles 5, 6 and 7 of Regulation No 261/2004 (2) must be interpreted as meaning that passengers whose flights are delayed may be treated, for the purposes of the application of the right to compensation, as passengers whose flights are cancelled where the time that they have lost due to the delayed flight is more than three hours, should the said articles be interpreted in the same way in the case of a flight that, having started on time at the place of departure, was delayed at the stop-over airport for three hours and fifty five minutes before taking off again because the airline, for operational reasons, decided to change equipment, where the equipment that replaced the previous equipment had already broken down prior to the stopover and needed a technical intervention, so that the flight arrived at the destination location with the said delay of three hours and fifty five minutes?
(2) Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 February 2004 establishing common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding and of cancellation or long delay of flights, and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 295/91 (OJ 2004 L 46, p. 1)
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/10 |
Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Cour de cassation (Belgium) lodged on 11 July 2011 — Déborah Prete v Office National De L’emploi
(Case C-367/11)
2011/C 282/19
Language of the case: French
Referring court
Cour de cassation
Parties to the main proceedings
Appellant: Déborah Prete
Respondent: Office National De L’emploi
Questions referred
1. |
Do Articles 12, 17, 18 and, so far as necessary, 39 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, as consolidated at Amsterdam on 2 October 1997, preclude a provision of national law under which, in the manner of Article 36(1)(2)(j) of the Belgian Royal Decree of 25 November 1991 laying down unemployment regulations, entitlement to tideover allowance for a young European Union national, who does not have the status of a ‘worker’ within the meaning of Article 39 of the Treaty, has completed secondary studies in the European Union but not at an educational establishment run, subsidised or approved by one of the communities in Belgium and has obtained either a document issued by one of those communities establishing the equivalence of those studies to the study certificate issued by the competent authority of one of those communities for studies completed in those Belgian educational establishments, or else a document giving access to higher education, is conditional upon the young person in question having previously completed six years’ studies at an educational establishment run, approved or subsidised by one of the communities in Belgium, if that condition is exclusive and absolute? |
2. |
If so, do the circumstances of the young person described in the first question, who has not completed six years’ studies at a Belgian educational establishment, resides in Belgium with her Belgian spouse and is registered as a job-seeker with a Belgian employment service, constitute factors to be taken into consideration in order to appraise that young person’s link to the Belgian employment market, having regard to Articles 12, 17, 18 and, if appropriate, 39 of the Treaty? To what extent must the length of those periods of residence, marriage and registration as a job-seeker be taken into consideration? |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/11 |
Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Tribunale di Santa Maria Capua Vetere (Italy) on 11 July 2011 — criminal proceedings against Raffaele Arrichiello
(Case C-368/11)
2011/C 282/20
Language of the case: Italian
Referring court
Tribunale di Santa Maria Capua Vetere (Italy).
Party to the main proceedings
Raffaele Arrichiello.
Questions referred
What is the interpretation to be given to Articles 43 EC and 49 EC concerning freedom of establishment and the freedom to provide services in the sector of bets on sporting events, for the purposes of determining whether or not the above-mentioned provisions of the treaty authorise national legislation establishing a monopoly regime in favour of the State and a system of concessions and authorisations which, in the case of a certain number of concessions, makes provision for: a) the existence of a general tendency to protect the holders of concessions granted in an earlier period, on the basis of a procedure which unlawfully excluded some operators; b) the presence of provisions de facto guaranteeing the maintenance of commercial positions acquired on the basis of a procedure which unlawfully excluded some operators (such as, for example, a prohibition on new concessionaires installing their windows at less than a certain distance from those already existing); and c) the setting of hypotheses for the expiry of the concession and acquisition of guarantees of a very high amount, such hypotheses including that in which the concessionnaire directly or indirectly operates cross-border gaming activities similar to those forming the subject-matter of the concession?
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/11 |
Action brought on 12 July 2011 — European Commission v Italian Republic
(Case C-369/11)
2011/C 282/21
Language of the case: Italian
Parties
Applicant: European Commission (represented by: E. Montaguti and H. Støvlbæk, acting as Agents)
Defendant: Italian Republic
Form of order sought
— |
Declare that, by failing to adopt the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with Article 6(3) and Annex II of Directive 91/440/EEC (1), as amended, and with Articles 4(2), 14(2), 4(1), 30(3) and 30(1) of Directive 2001/14/EC (2), the Italian Republic has failed to fulfil its obligations under those provisions. |
— |
order the Italian Republic to pay the costs. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
The Commission’s complaints concern the independence of the body carrying out essential functions in the matter of access to infrastructure and the imposition of dues for railway access and the powers and autonomy of the body regulating the railway sector.
The Commission argues that the regime governing the exercise by the infrastructure manager of essential functions concerning access to the infrastructure does not provide sufficient guarantees that that manager operates independently of the holding company of the group of which it forms part, which also includes the main railway undertaking on the market.
Moreover, given that it is for the Minister for Transport to determine dues for access to the network, whereas the infrastructure manager can only make a proposal on the matter and has only the operating duty of calculating the dues actually payable by a single railway undertaking, the latter is deprived of an essential management tool, in contrast with the requirement for independent management.
Finally, the necessary full independence of the body for regulating all railway undertakings has not yet been assured, since the staff of the regulatory body consists of officials of the Ministry of Transport and the latter continues to exercise a decisive influence on the holding company of the group which includes the main Italian railway undertaking, and thus also on the latter.
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/11 |
Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Hof van beroep te Gent (Belgium) lodged on 13 July 2011 — Punch Graphix Prepress Belgium N.V. v Belgische Staat
(Case C-371/11)
2011/C 282/22
Language of the case: Dutch
Referring court
Hof van beroep te Gent
Parties to the main proceedings
Appellant: Punch Graphix Prepress Belgium N.V.
Respondent: Belgische Staat
Question referred
Can the national tax authorities exclude the application of Article 4(1) of Council Directive 90/435/EEC (1) of 23 July 1990 on the common system of taxation applicable in the case of parent companies and subsidiaries of different Member States on the basis of the provision in that Article that it is not applicable in a case where the subsidiary is liquidated, by relying on a provision of domestic law (here, Article 210 WIB92 [Income Tax Code 1992]) which treats a merger by acquisition where in reality no liquidation of the subsidiary takes place, as a merger where liquidation of the subsidiary does in fact take place?
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/12 |
Appeal brought on 14 July 2011 by Power-One Italy SpA against the order of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 24 May 2011 in Case T-489/08 Power-One Italy SpA v European Commission
(Case C-372/11 P)
2011/C 282/23
Language of the case: Italian
Parties
Appellant: Power-One Italy SpA (represented by: A. Giussani and R. Giuffrida, avvocati)
Other party to the proceedings: European Commission
Form of order sought
— |
Set aside the order of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 24 May 2011 in Case T-489/09 and, accordingly:
|
— |
order the Commission to pay the costs. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
In support of its appeal, Power-One Italy alleges, first, infringement of the general legal principle of the protection of legitimate expectations and that the statement of reasons was inadequate and contradictory, with reference to the claim alleging abuse of process.
The General Court stated, at paragraph 47 of the order under appeal, that the appellant could have derived a greater advantage from annulment of the Commission’s decision in respect of the sums reimbursed, corresponding to the recovery of the entire financial assistance provided for the project at issue and that ‘the payment of such a sum by way of compensation may be regarded as being closely connected to the annulment of the decision in question’, thus setting out its reasons in relation to the submissions alleging abuse of process. The General Court therefore arbitrarily split the appellant’s claim, separating the substantive unity of the acts which made up the conduct giving rise to the loss from the loss-causing event, represented by the overall expenses incurred. Adequate reasons were therefore not given for upholding the objection raised by the Commission.
The second ground on which the appeal is based alleges breach of the general legal principle of the protection of legitimate expectations, misapplication of the rules governing the burden of proof and obtaining evidence and inadequate and contradictory reasoning as regards the claims relating to residual damage.
Paragraph 55 of the General Court’s decision states that ‘the application does not set out the nature or scope of the residual damage which the applicant claims to have suffered’ and that ‘the application does not give any indication of the grounds on which the applicant claims that the residual damage is attributable to the withdrawal by the Commission of the financing for the project at issue’. It should be noted in that regard that the loss sustained by the appellant company can only be said to be self-evident, since the financing in question was intended to perform a specific function, which can be identified in the project undertaken, and the withdrawal of the financing could only give rise to costs being incurred which, in the absence of the funding, the appellant would not have afforded, Those arguments, previously set out in the observations relating to the plea of inadmissibility raised by the Commission (the appellant company’s balance sheet having been, moreover, annexed to those observations), were not considered by the General Court, which confined itself to challenging the alleged lack of particulars relating to the loss sustained.
Lastly, the appellant alleges breach of the general legal principle of the protection of legitimate expectations, misapplication of the rules governing the burden of proof and obtaining of evidence and failure to assess facts which would have had a bearing on the outcome of the case, by reference to the causal link.
At paragraph 57 of the order under appeal, in relation to the claims concerning the causal link, the General Court stated that the appellant company ‘does not provide any indication as to the effect of the conduct in question on the fact that the applicant bore the cost of project at issue in excess of the maximum amount committed by the Commission’. According to the appellant, it is clear that in the present case the General Court carried out a substantively inaccurate assessment of the facts on the file submitted in the proceedings. In essence, the General Court distorted the evidence put forward by denying the existence of a clear causal link between the Commission’s conduct and the loss sustained by the appellant. Thus, in stating the grounds for its decision, the General Court failed to consider circumstances already relied on in the application at first instance or the observations subsequently submitted. It is clear from the appellant’s submissions in particular that the alleged failure on the part of the Commission is of an ancillary, not an essential nature, and consists in a delay in supplementing the documentation in relation to a project that is fully completed.
(1) Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 July 2000 concerning the Financial Instrument for the Environment (LIFE) (OJ 2000 L 192, p. 1).
(2) Standard Administrative Provisions annexed to the Grant Agreement.
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/13 |
Action brought on 13 July 2011 — European Commission v Ireland
(Case C-374/11)
2011/C 282/24
Language of the case: English
Parties
Applicant: European Commission (represented by: E. White, I. Hadjiyiannis, A. Marghelis, agents)
Defendant: Ireland
The applicant claims that the Court should:
— |
declare that, by failing to take the necessary measures to comply with the judgment of this Court in Case C-188/08 Commission v Ireland, Ireland has failed to fulfil its obligations wider Article 260 TFEU; |
— |
order Ireland to pay to the Commission a lump sum of EUR 4 771,20 multiplied by the number of days between the judgment in Case C-188/08 and the judgment in the present proceedings (or full compliance by Ireland with the judgment in Case C-188/08 if that should be achieved during the pendency of these proceedings); |
— |
order Ireland to pay to the Commission a daily penalty payment of EUR 26 173,44 from the date of the judgment in the present proceedings to the date of compliance by Ireland with the judgment in Case C-188/08; and |
— |
order Ireland to pay the costs of this action. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
More than one and a half years have elapsed since the Court’s judgment in Case C-188/08. The Commission considers that this should have been sufficient time for Ireland to comply with the judgment of the Court. It notes, indeed, that Ireland announced that it intended to have the required legislation adopted by the end of 2010. However that goal has not been respected and Ireland does not appear to be close to achieving full compliance. Accordingly, the Commission considers that Ireland has failed to satisfy its obligation under Article 260(1) TFEU.
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/13 |
Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Cour constitutionnelle (Belgium) lodged on 15 July 2011 — Belgacom SA, Mobistar SA, KPN Group Belgium SA (formerly ‘Base’) v Etat belge
(Case C-375/11)
2011/C 282/25
Language of the case: French
Referring court
Cour constitutionnelle
Parties to the main proceedings
Applicants: Belgacom SA, Mobistar SA, KPN Group Belgium SA (formerly ‘Base’)
Defendant: Etat belge
Questions referred
1. |
Do Articles 3, 12 and 13 of Directive 2002/20/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on the authorisation of electronic communications networks and services (Authorisation Directive) (1), as they currently apply, permit Member States to charge operators holding individual rights to use mobile phone frequencies for a period of fifteen years, in the context of authorisations to install and operate on their territory mobile phone networks issued under the scheme instituted under the former legal framework, a one-off fee for the renewal of their individual rights to use frequencies the amount of which, relating to the number of frequencies and months to which the rights of use relate, is calculated on the basis of the former one-off grant fee that was associated with the issue of the aforementioned authorisations, when that one-off fee is additional to both an annual charge for making frequencies available (intended first and foremost to cover the costs of making frequencies available while at the same time also partially reflecting the value of frequencies, the purpose of the one-off fee and the annual charge being to encourage optimal use of the frequencies) and a charge covering the cost of managing the authorisation? |
2. |
Do Articles 3, 12 and 13 of the same Authorisation Directive permit the Member States to charge operators hoping to acquire new rights to use mobile phone frequencies a one-off fee the amount of which is determined at auction on the assignment of frequencies, in order to reflect the value of frequencies, when that one-off fee is additional to both an annual charge for making frequencies available (intended first and foremost to cover the costs of making frequencies available while at the same time also partially reflecting the value of frequencies, the purpose of the one-off fee and the annual charge being to encourage optimal use of the frequencies) and an annual charge for the management of authorisations to install and operate mobile phone networks issued under the scheme instituted under the former legal framework? |
3. |
Does Article 14(2) of the same Authorisation Directive permit the Member States to charge mobile phone operators, in respect of the renewal of their individual rights to use mobile phone radiofrequencies, to which certain of them were already entitled, before the beginning of the renewal period, a one-off fee relating to the renewal of the rights to use frequencies they enjoyed before the renewal period, intended to encourage optimal use of the frequencies by way of reflecting their value, when that one-off fee is additional to both an annual charge for making frequencies available (intended first and foremost to cover the costs of making frequencies available while at the same time also partially reflecting the value of frequencies, the purpose of the one-off fee and the annual charge being to encourage optimal use of the frequencies) and an annual charge for the management of authorisations to install and operate mobile phone networks issued under the scheme instituted under the former legal framework? |
4. |
Does Article 14(1) of the same Authorisation Directive permit the Member States to add, as a condition of acquiring and renewing rights to use frequencies, a one-off fee that is determined at auction, without limit, when that one-off fee is additional to both an annual charge for making frequencies available (intended first and foremost to cover the costs of making frequencies available while at the same time also partially reflecting the value of frequencies, the purpose of the one-off fee and the annual charge being to encourage optimal use of the frequencies) and an annual charge for the management of authorisations to install and operate mobile phone networks issued under the scheme instituted under the former legal framework? |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/14 |
Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Rechtbank van Eerste Aanleg te Brussel (Belgium) lodged on 19 July 2011 — Tate & Lyle Investments Ltd v Belgische Staat, other party: Syral Belgium NV
(Case C-384/11)
2011/C 282/26
Language of the case: Dutch
Referring court
Rechtbank van Eerste Aanleg te Brussel
Parties to the main proceedings
Applicant: Tate & Lyle Investments Ltd
Defendant: Belgische Staat
Other party: Syral Belgium NV
Question referred
Does Article 63 TFEU (previously Article 56 of the EC Treaty) preclude legislation on the part of a Member State whereby a dividend distributed to a resident shareholder company, which has a holding of less than 10 % in the capital of another resident company but with a purchase value of at least EUR 1.2 million, is subject to withholding tax of 10 %, but whereby such withholding tax is deductible from the corporate tax payable in Belgium and the balance, if any, is refundable, and whereby such a company, where appropriate, is also entitled to the application of a tax regime (‘DBI’: definitief belasten inkomsten: definitively taxed income) which allows the tax base to be reduced still further by the costs related to the shareholding, whereas for companies established in another Member State of the European Union which receive such dividends, and distributions regarded as dividends, from an identical holding in a resident company, the 10 % withholding tax levied constitutes a final tax which is not refundable and which cannot be reduced by relying on the aforementioned tax regime (‘DBI’)?
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/14 |
Reference for a preliminary ruling from First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) (United Kingdom) made on 25 July 2011 — Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP v Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs
(Case C-392/11)
2011/C 282/27
Language of the case: English
Referring court
First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber)
Parties to the main proceedings
Applicant: Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP
Defendant: Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs
Questions referred
1. |
The principal question in the present case is whether the services provided by landlords under a lease agreement with their tenants (‘the Services’) should be regarded as an element of a single exempt supply of a lease of land, either because the Services form objectively a single indivisible economic supply together with the lease or because they are ‘ancillary’ to the lease, which forms the principal supply (“the Principal Supply”). In determining this question and in the light of the ECJ's decision in Case C-572/07 Tellmer, how relevant is it that the Services could be (but are not in fact) supplied by persons other than the landlords, albeit under the terms of the present leases in question the tenants had no choice but to receive the services from the landlords? |
2. |
In determining whether there is a single supply, is it relevant that a failure by the tenant to pay the service charge would entitle the landlord not only to refuse to provide the Services but also to terminate the lease agreement with the tenant? |
3. |
If the answer to question 1 is that the possibility of third parties providing the Services direct to the tenant is relevant, is it merely a contributory factor in determining whether the Services are either a single, indivisible economic supply, which it would be artificial to split or an ancillary supply to the Principal Supply, or is it a determining factor? If it is merely a contributory factor or if it is not relevant at all, what other factors are relevant in determining whether the Services are an ancillary supply? In particular how relevant is it whether the Services are performed in or in respect of the demised premises which are the subject matter of the letting or in other parts of the building? |
4. |
If the possibility of third parties providing the Services is relevant, is more particularly what is relevant whether the Services could as a legal matter be supplied by third parties, even if this would be difficult in practice to organise or agree with the landlord, or is the practical possibility or the common practice in the provision of such services the relevant consideration? |
5. |
The Services in the present case represent a range of services provided in return for a single service charge. In the event that some of these services (e.g, cleaning of common parts, the provision of security services) are not part of a single indivisible economic supply or are to be regarded as ancillary to the Principal Supply, but other services are, would it be correct to apportion the total consideration between the various services in order to determine the portion of the consideration chargeable to tax and that portion not so chargeable? Alternatively would it be correct to regard the range of services provided as so closely linked to each other that they form‘a single indivisible economic supply which it would be artificial to split’ being of itself a single supply separate from the leasing of property? |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/15 |
Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Consiglio di Stato (Italy) on 25 July 2011 — Autorità per l’Energia Elettrica e il Gas v Antonella Bertazzi and Others
(Case C-393/11)
2011/C 282/28
Langague of the case: Italian
Referring court
Consiglio di Stato (Italy).
Parties to the main proceedings
Applicant: Autorità per l’Energia Elettrica e il Gas.
Defendants: Antonella Bertazzi, Annalise Colombo, Maria Valeria Contin, Angela Filippina Marasco, Guido Giussani, Lucia Lizzi, Fortuna Peranio.
Questions referred
1. |
Is Article 75(2) of Legislative Decree No112/08, which completely disregards length of service under fixed-term working contracts with independent administrative authorities in cases where the workers concerned are established exceptionally — in derogation from the principle in Article 36(5) of Legislative Decree No 165/01 — following ‘selection tests’ which are not comparable with public competitions on the basis of ordinary tests (seeking the optimal employment of successful candidates in the posts to be filled) but which are nevertheless capable of establishing, exceptionally, what should be regarded as a new working relationship valid ‘ex nunc’, compatible, in that it is justified on objective grounds, with clause 4, paragraphe 4, of the Annex to Directive 1999/70/CE, (according to which ‘period-of-service qualifications relating to particular conditions of employment shall be the same for fixed-term workers as for permanent workers except where different length-of service qualifications are justified on objective grounds’)? |
2. |
or is it contrary to Directive 1999/70/CE — thereby necessarily implying refusal to apply the above-mentioned national provision — not to take account not only of length of service but also of the career progression achieved at the date of establishment, in its entirety or in respect of the part exceeding either the length of service required for access to those selection tests, or any safeguard measures which the national legislature may be empowered to adopt for the purposes of protecting, within reasonable limits, the positions of successful competition candidates? |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/15 |
Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Curtea de Apel Constanța (Romania) lodged on 27 July 2011 — Criminal proceedings against Ciprian Vasile Radu
(Case C-396/11)
2011/C 282/29
Language of the case: Romanian
Referring court
Curtea de Apel Constanța
Party to the main proceedings
Ciprian Vasile Radu
Questions referred
1. |
Are Articles 5(1) and 6 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, read in conjunction with Articles 48 and 52 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, with reference also to Article 5(3) and (4) and Article 6(2) and (3) of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, provisions of primary Community law, contained in the founding Treaties? |
2. |
Does the action of the competent judicial authority of the State of execution of a European arrest warrant, entailing deprivation of liberty and forcible surrender, without the consent of the person in respect of whom the European arrest warrant has been issued (the person whose arrest and surrender is requested) constitute interference, on the part of the State executing the warrant, with the right to individual liberty of the person whose arrest and surrender is requested, which is authorised by European Union law, pursuant to Article 6 TEU, read in conjunction with Article 5(1) of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and pursuant to Article 6 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, read in conjunction with Articles 48 and 52 thereof, with reference also to Article 5(3) and (4) and Article 6(2) and (3) of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms? |
3. |
Must the interference on the part of the State executing a European arrest warrant with the rights and guarantees laid down in Article 5(1) of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and in Article 6 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, read in conjunction with Articles 48 and 52 thereof, with reference also to Article 5(3) and (4) and Article 6(2) and (3) of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, satisfy the requirements of necessity in a democratic society and of proportionality in relation to the objective actually pursued? |
4. |
Can the competent judicial authority of the State executing a European arrest warrant refuse the request for surrender without being in breach of the obligations authorised by the founding Treaties and the other provisions of Community law, by reason of the fact that the necessary conditions under Article 5(1) of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and Article 6 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, read in conjunction with Articles 48 and 52 thereof, with reference also to Article 5(3) and (4) and Article 6(2) and (3) of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, have not been cumulatively satisfied? |
5. |
Can the competent judicial authority of the State executing a European arrest warrant refuse the request for surrender without being in breach of the obligations authorised by the founding Treaties and the other provisions of Community law, on the ground that the State issuing the European arrest warrant has failed to transpose or fully to transpose or has incorrectly transposed (in the sense that the condition of reciprocity has not been satisfied) Council Framework Decision 2002/584/JHA? |
6. |
Is the domestic law of Romania, a Member State of the European Union — in particular Title III of Law No 302/2004 — incompatible with Article 5(1) of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and Article 6 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, read in conjunction with Articles 48 and 52 thereof, with reference also to Article 5(3) and (4) and Article 6(2) and (3) of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, to which Article 6 TEU refers, and have the above provisions properly transposed into national law Council Framework Decision 2002/584/JHA? |
General Court
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/17 |
Order of the General Court of 30 June 2011 — Tecnoprocess v Commission and EU Delegation to the Kingdom of Morocco
(Case T-264/09) (1)
(Action for failure to act - Invitation to act - Inadmissibility - Action for damages - Causal link - Loss - Action manifestly lacking any foundation in law)
2011/C 282/30
Language of the case: Italian
Parties
Applicant: Technoprocess Srl (Rome, Italy) (represented by: A. Majoli, lawyer)
Defendants: European Commission (represented by: A. Bordes and L. Prete, Agents); and EU Delegation to the Kingdom of Morocco
Re:
APPLICATION firstly, for a declaration that the European Commission and the EU Delegation to the Kingdom of Morocco have failed to act and secondly, for damages to compensate for the loss allegedly suffered as a result of, inter alia, that failure to act.
Operative part of the order
1. |
The action is dismissed as in part inadmissible and in part manifestly without foundation in law. |
2. |
Technoprocess Srl is ordered to pay the costs. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/17 |
Order of the General Court of 4 July 2011 — Sepracor Pharmaceuticals v Commission
(Case T-275/09) (1)
(Action for annulment - Medicinal products for human use - Active substance eszopiclone - Marketing authorisation - Refusal of recognition as a new active substance - Act not amenable to review - Inadmissibility)
2011/C 282/31
Language of the case: English
Parties
Applicant: Sepracor Pharmaceuticals (Ireland) Ltd (Dublin, Ireland) (represented by: I. Dodds-Smith, Solicitor, D. Anderson QC, and J. Stratford, Barrister)
Defendant: European Commission (represented by: A. Sipos, and subsequently by M. Wilderspin and M. Šimerdová, Agents)
Re:
ACTION for annulment of the decision in the letter of the Commission addressed to the applicant on 6 May 2009 in the context of the procedure for authorising the placing on the market of Lunivia, inasmuch as it concerns classification of the active substance eszopiclone
Operative part of the order
1. |
The action is dismissed as inadmissible. |
2. |
Sepracor Pharmaceuticals (Ireland) Ltd shall pay the costs. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/17 |
Order of the General Court of 7 July 2011 — Acetificio Marcello de Nigris v Commission
(Case T-351/09) (1)
(Action for annulment - Registration of a protected geographical indication - Lack of individual concern - Inadmissibility)
2011/C 282/32
Language of the case: Italian
Parties
Applicant: Acetificio Marcello de Nigris Srl (Afragola, Italy) (represented by: P. Perani and P. Pozzi, lawyers)
Defendant: European Commission (represented by: P. Rossi and B. Rasmussen, acting as Agents)
Intervener in support of the defendant: Italian Republic (represented by: G. Palmieri and S. Fiorentino, lawyers)
Re:
Application for annulment of Commission Regulation (EC) No 583/2009 of 3 July 2009 entering a name in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications [Aceto Balsamico di Modena (PGI)] (OJ 2009 L 175, p. 7)
Operative part of the order
1. |
The action is dismissed as inadmissible. |
2. |
There is no need to adjudicate on the application for leave to intervene of Consorzio Filiera Aceto Balsamico di Modena. |
3. |
Acetificio Marcello de Nigris Srl shall bear its own costs and pay those incurred by the European Commission. |
4. |
The Italian Republic and Consorzio Filiera Aceto Balsamico di Modena shall bear their own costs. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/18 |
Order of the General Court of 30 June 2011 — Tecnoprocess v Commission
(Case T-367/09) (1)
(Action for failure to act - Request to act - Manifest inadmissibility - Action for damages - Causal link - Action manifestly lacking any foundation in law)
2011/C 282/33
Language of the case: Italian
Parties
Applicant: Tecnoprocess Srl (Rome, Italy) (represented by: A. Majoli, lawyer)
Defendant: European Commission (represented by: L. Prete and A. Bordes, acting as Agents)
Re:
Action, first, for a declaration that the European Commission and the European Union delegation to Nigeria have failed to act and, secondly, for compensation for damage allegedly suffered as a result of that failure to act
Operative part of the order
1. |
The action is dismissed in part as inadmissible and in part as manifestly lacking any foundation in law. |
2. |
Tecnoprocess Srl shall pay the costs. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/18 |
Order of the General Court of 30 June 2011 — Tecnoprocess v Commission
(Case T-403/09) (1)
(Action for damages - Unjust enrichment - Application initiating proceedings - Formal requirements - Inadmissibility)
2011/C 282/34
Language of the case: Italian
Parties
Applicant: Tecnoprocess Srl (Rome, Italy) (represented by: A. Majoli, lawyer)
Defendant: European Commission (represented by: A. Bordes and L. Prete, Agents)
Re:
Application, first, for a declaration that the European Commission and the delegations of the European Union to Morocco and Nigeria have been unjustly enriched and, second, for an order that the Commission pay the sum of EUR 114 069,94 and the interest due on that sum.
Operative part of the order
1. |
The application is dismissed as inadmissible. |
2. |
Tecnoprocess Srl is ordered to pay the costs. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/18 |
Order of the General Court of 28 June 2011 — van Arum v Parliament
(Case T-454/09 P) (1)
(Appeals - Staff Cases - Officials - Reports - Staff report - Reporting exercise for 2005 - Appeal in part manifestly inadmissible and in part manifestly unfounded)
2011/C 282/35
Language of the case: Dutch
Parties
Appellant: Rinse van Arum (Winksele, Belgium) (represented by: W. van den Muijsenbergh, lawyer)
Other party to the proceedings: European Parliament (represented by: J. F. de Wachter, K. Zejdová et R. Ignătescu, Agents)
Re:
Appeal against the judgment of the Civil Service Tribunal of the European Union (Second Chamber) of 10 September 2009 in Case F-139/07 van Arum v Parliament ECR-SC I-A-1-0000 and II-A-1-0000, seeking to have that judgment set aside.
Operative part of the order
1. |
The appeal is dismissed. |
2. |
Mr Rinse van Arum is ordered to bear his own costs and to pay those incurred by the European Parliament in these proceedings. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/19 |
Order of the General Court of 30 June 2011 — Al Saadi v Commission
(Case T-4/10) (1)
(Death of the applicant - Proceedings not resumed by the successors - No need to adjudicate)
2011/C 282/36
Language of the case: English
Parties
Applicant: Faraj Faraj Hassan Al Saadi (Leicester, United Kingdom) (represented by J. Jones, Barrister and M. Arani, Solicitor)
Defendant: European Commission (represented by M. Konstantinidis, T. Scharf and E. Paasivirta, Agents)
Interveners in support of the defendant: Council of the European Union (represented by R. Szostak and E. Finnegan, Agents); Italian Republic (represented initially by G. Palmieri, and subsequently by G. Albenzio, lawyers); and French Republic (represented by G. de Bergues, E. Belliard and L. Butel, Agents)
Re:
APPLICATION for the annulment in part of Commission Regulation (EC) No 954/2009 of 13 October 2009 amending for the 114th time Council Regulation (EC) No 881/2002 of 27 May 2002, imposing certain specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities associated with Usama bin Laden, the Al-Qaida network and the Taliban, in so far as the applicant appears on the list of persons, groups and entities covered by those provisions (OJ 2009 L 269, p. 20).
Operative part of the order
1. |
There is no need to adjudicate on this action. |
2. |
Each party shall bear its own costs. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/19 |
Order of the General Court of 14 July 2011 — Goutier v OHIM — Rauch (ARANTAX)
(Case T-13/10) (1)
(Community trade mark - Opposition - Withdrawal of the opposition - No need to give judgment)
2011/C 282/37
Language of the case: German
Parties
Applicant: Klaus Goutier (Frankfurt am Main, Germany) (represented by: E.E. Happe, lawyer)
Defendant: Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) (represented initially by B. Schmidt and then by B. Schmidt and R. Pethke, agents)
Other party to the proceedings before the Board of Appeal of OHIM intervening before the General Court: Norbert Rauch (Herzogenaurach, Germany) (represented by: A. Fottner and M. Müller, lawyers)
Re:
Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of OHIM of 10 November 2009 (Case R 1796/2008-4) concerning opposition proceedings between Norbert Rauch and Klaus Goutier.
Operative part of the order
1. |
There is no longer any need to give judgment in the action. |
2. |
The applicant is ordered to bear his own costs and those incurred by the defendant. The intervener will bear his own costs. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/19 |
Order of the General Court of 30 June 2011 — Cross Czech v Commission
(Case T-252/10) (1)
(Action for annulment - Sixth framework programme for research, technological development and demonstration activities - Letter confirming the findings of an audit report and informing the applicant of the next steps in the procedure - Contractual and non-decision-making character of the letter - Inadmissibility)
2011/C 282/38
Language of the case: English
Parties
Applicant: Cross Czech a.s. (Prague, Czech Republic) (represented by: T. Schollaert, lawyer)
Defendant: European Commission (represented by: R. Lyal and W. Roels, Agents)
Re:
Application for annulment of the Commission letter of 12 March 2010, reference number INFSO-O2/FD/GVC/Isc D (2010) 208676, confirming the findings of financial audit report 09-BA74-006 concerning the financial statements declared by the applicant over the period 1 February 2005 to 30 April 2008 for three contracts concluded between the applicant and the Commission under the sixth framework programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities, contributing to the creation of the European research area and to innovation (2002-06), and informing the applicant of the next steps in the procedure
Operative part of the order
1. |
The action is dismissed as inadmissible. |
2. |
Cross Czech a.s. is to bear its own costs and to pay those of the European Commission, including the costs incurred in the proceedings for interim relief. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/20 |
Order of the General Court of 15 July 2011 — Marcuccio v Commission
(Case T-366/10 P) (1)
(Appeal - Civil service - Officials - Non-contractual liability - Reimbursement of recoverable costs - Exception for parallel proceedings - Procedural defects - Rights of the defence - Appeal partly manifestly inadmissible and partly manifestly unfounded)
2011/C 282/39
Language of the case: Italian
Parties
Appellant: Luigi Marcuccio (Tricase, Italy) (represented by: G. Cipressa, lawyer)
Other party to the proceedings: European Commission (represented by: J. Curral and C. Berardis-Kayser, agents, assisted by A. Dal Ferro, lawyer)
Re:
Appeal brought against the order of the Civil Service Tribunal of the European Union (First Chamber) of 22 June 2010 in Case F-78/09 Marcuccio v Commission, not yet published in the ECR, and seeking to annul that order.
Operative part of the order
1. |
The appeal is dismissed; |
2. |
Mr Luigi Marcuccio is to bear his own costs and those incurred by the European Commission in the present proceedings. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/20 |
Order of the President of the General Court of 13 April 2011 — Westfälische Drahtindustrie and Others v Commission
(Case T-393/10 R)
(Application for interim measures - Competition - Decision of the Commission imposing a fine - Bank guarantee - Application to suspend operation)
2011/C 282/40
Language of the case: German
Parties
Applicants: Westfälische Drahtindustrie GmbH (Hamm, Germany); Westfälische Drahtindustrie Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH & Co KG (Hamm); and Pampus Industriebeteiligungen GmbH & Co KG (Iserlohn, Germany) (represented by: C. Stadler and N. Tkatchenko, lawyers)
Defendant: European Commission (represented by: V. Bottka, R. Sauer and C. Hödlmayr, agents, assisted by R. van der Hout, lawyer)
Re:
Application to suspend the operation of Commission Decision C(2010) 4387 final of 30 June 2010 relating to a proceeding under Article 101 TFEU and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement (Case COMP/38.344 — Pre-stressing steel), as amended by Commission Decision C(2010) 6676 final of 30 September 2010, in so far as a fine was thereby imposed on the applicants.
Operative part of the order
1. |
The obligation of Westfälische Drahtindustrie GmbH, Westfälische Drahtindustrie Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG and Pampus Industriebeteiligungen GmbH & Co. KG to provide the Commission with a bank guarantee in order to avoid immediate collection of the fines imposed on them under Article 2(1) of Commission Decision C(2010) 4387 final of 30 June 2010 in a proceeding under Article 101 TFEU and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement (Case COMP/38.344 — Pre-stressing steel) as amended by Commission Decision C(2010) 6676 final of 30 September 2010, is suspended under the following conditions
|
2. |
The costs are reserved. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/20 |
Order of the President of the General Court of 15 July 2011 — Fapricela v Commission
(Case T-398/10 R)
(Application for interim measures - Competition - Decision of the Commission imposing a fine - Bank guarantee - Application to suspend operation - Financial damage - Lack of exceptional circumstances - Lack of urgency)
2011/C 282/41
Language of the case: Portuguese
Parties
Applicant: Fapricela — Indústria de Trefilaria, SA (Ançã, Portugal) (represented by: M. Gorjão-Henriques and S. Roux, lawyers)
Defendant: European Commission (represented by: F. Castillo de la Torre, P. Costa de Oliveira and V. Bottka, agents, assisted by M. Marques Mendes, lawyer)
Re:
Application to suspend the operation of Commission Decision C(2010) 4387 final of 30 June 2010 relating to a proceeding under Article 101 TFEU and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement (Case COMP/38.344 — Pre-stressing steel), inter alia in so far as it imposes the obligation to set up a bank guarantee in order to avoid immediate recovery of the fine imposed under Article 2 of that decision.
Operative part of the order
1. |
The application for interim measures is dismissed. |
2. |
Costs are reserved. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/21 |
Order of the General Court of 18 July 2011 — Marcuccio v Commission
(Case T-450/10 P) (1)
(Appeal - Civil service - Officials - Reasonable period of time within which to bring a damages claim - Lateness - Appeal partly manifestly inadmissible and partly manifestly unfounded)
2011/C 282/42
Language of the case: Italian
Parties
Appellant: Luigi Marcuccio (Tricase, Italy) (represented by: G. Cipressa, lawyer)
Other party to the proceedings: European Commission (represented by: J. Currall and C. Berardis-Kayser, agents, assisted by A. Dal Ferro, lawyer)
Re:
Appeal brought against the order of the Civil Service Tribunal of the European Union (First Chamber) of 9 July 2010 in Case F-91/09 Marcuccio v Commission, not yet published in the ECR, and seeking to annul that order.
Operative part of the order:
1. |
The appeal is dismissed. |
2. |
Mr Luigi Marcuccio is to bear his own costs and those incurred by the European Commission in the present proceedings. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/21 |
Order of the General Court of 21 July 2011 — Fuchshuber Agrarhandel v Commission
(Case T-451/10) (1)
(Action for damages - Common agricultural policy - Standing invitations to tender for the purchase of cereals on the Community market - Commission’s supervisory power - Sufficiently serious breach of a rule of law conferring rights on individuals - Action obviously lacking any basis in law)
2011/C 282/43
Language of the case: German
Parties
Applicant: Fuchshuber Agrarhandel GmbH (Hörsching, Germany) (represented by: G. Lehner, lawyer)
Defendant: European Commission (represented by: G. von Rintelen and D. Triantafyllou, Agents)
Re:
Action seeking compensation for the loss allegedly suffered by the applicant because of the lack of supervision, by the Commission, of the conditions for implementing standing invitations to tender for the purchase of cereals on the Community market, in this case maize held by the Hungarian intervention agency
Operative part of the order
1. |
The action is dismissed as obviously lacking any basis in law. |
2. |
Fuchshuber Agrarhandel GmbH shall bear its own costs and pay those of the European Commission. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/21 |
Order of the General Court of 6 July 2011 — SIR v Council
(Case T-142/11) (1)
(Common foreign and security policy - Restrictive measures taken in view of the situation in Côte d’Ivoire - Withdrawal of the list of persons concerned - Action for annulment - No need to adjudicate)
2011/C 282/44
Language of the case: French
Parties
Applicant: Société ivoirienne de raffinage (SIR) (Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire) (represented by: M. Ceccaldi, lawyer)
Defendant: Council of the European Union (represented by: B. Driessen and A. Vitro, Agents)
Re:
Application for annulment of Council Decision 2011/18/CFSP of 14 January 2011 amending Council Decision 2010/656/CFSP renewing the restrictive measures against Côte d’Ivoire (OJ 2011 L 11, p. 36) and, secondly, of Council Regulation (EU) No 25/2011 of 14 January 2011 amending Regulation (EC) No 560/2005 imposing certain specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Côte d’Ivoire (OJ 2011 L 11, p. 1), on the ground that those measures establish restrictive measures which cause the applicant harm
Operative part of the order
1. |
There is no longer any need to adjudicate on the action. |
2. |
The Council of the European Union shall pay the costs. |
3. |
There is no longer any need to adjudicate on the European Commission’s application for leave to intervene. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/22 |
Order of the General Court of 6 July 2011 — Petroci v Council
(Case T-160/11) (1)
(Common Foreign and Security Policy - Restrictive measures taken in view of the situation in Côte d’Ivoire - Removal from the list of persons concerned - Action for annulment - No need to adjudicate)
2011/C 282/45
Language of the case: French
Parties
Applicant: Société nationale d'opérations pétrolières de la Cote d’Ivoire Holding (Petroci Holding) (Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire) (represented by: M. Ceccaldi, lawyer)
Defendant: Council of the European Union (represented by: B. Driessen and A. Vitro, Agents)
Re:
Annulment of Council Decision 2011/18/CFSP of 14 January 2011 amending Council Decision 2010/656/CFSP renewing the restrictive measures against Côte d’Ivoire (OJ 2011 L 11, p. 36), and Council Regulation (EU) No 25/2011 of 14 January 2011 amending Regulation (EC) No 560/2005 imposing certain specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Côte d’Ivoire (OJ 2011 L 11, p. 1), in so far as those acts introduce restrictive measures which adversely affect the applicant.
Operative part of the order
1. |
There is no longer any need to adjudicate. |
2. |
The Council of the European Union shall pay the costs. |
3. |
There is no need to adjudicate on the application of the European Commission for leave to intervene |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/22 |
Order of the President of the General Court of 14 July 2011 — Trabelsi and Others v Council
(Case T-187/11 R)
(Interim measures - Common foreign and security policy - Restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Tunisia - Freezing of funds - Application for suspension of operation and for interim measures - Lack of urgency)
2011/C 282/46
Language of the case: French
Parties
Applicants: Mohamed Trabelsi (Paris, France); Ines Lejri (Paris); Moncef Trabelsi (Paris); Selima Trabelsi (Paris); and Tarek Trabelsi (Paris) (represented initially by A. Metzker, and subsequently by A. Tekari, lawyers)
Defendant: Council of the European Union (represented by: A. Vitro and G. Étienne, Agents)
Re:
Application for interim measures and for suspension of operation of Council Implementing Decision 2011/79/CFSP of 4 February 2011 implementing Decision 2011/72/CFSP concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Tunisia (OJ 2011 L 31, p. 40).
Operative part of the order
1. |
The application for interim measures is dismissed. |
2. |
Costs are reserved. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/23 |
Order of the President of the General Court of 15 July 2011 — College of staff representatives of the EIB and Others v Bömcke
(Case T-213/11 P(I)) (1)
(Appeal - Civil Service - Application to intervene before the Civil Service Tribunal - Calculation of time limit - Out of time)
2011/C 282/47
Language of the case: French
Parties
Appellants: College of staff representatives of the European Investment Bank (Luxembourg, Luxembourg); Jean-Pierre Bodson (Luxembourg); Evangelos Kourgias (Senningerberg, Luxembourg); Manuel Sutil (Nondkeil, France); Patrick Vanhoudt (Gonderange, Luxembourg); Marie-Christel Heger (Luxembourg) (represented by: J. Wilson, A. Senes and B. Entringer, lawyers)
Other party to the proceedings: Eberhard Bömcke (Athus, Belgium) (represented by: D. Lagasse, lawyer)
Re:
Appeal against the order of the President of the Second Chamber of the Civil Service Tribunal of the European Union of 17 March 2011 in Case F-95/10 INT Bömcke v EIB, not published in the ECR, seeking to have that order set aside.
Operative part of the order
1. |
The appeal is dismissed. |
2. |
The College of staff representatives of the European Investment Bank, Jean-Pierre Bodson, Evangelos Kourgias, Manuel Sutil, Patrick Vanhoudt and Marie-Christel Heger are ordered to bear their own costs. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/23 |
Order of the President of the General Court of 29 July 2011 — Cemex and Others v Commission
(Case T-292/11 R)
(Interim measures - Competition - Request for information Article 18(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 - Application for suspension of application - Lack of urgency)
2011/C 282/48
Language of the case: Spanish
Parties
Applicants: Cemex S.A.B. de C.V. (Monterrey, Mexico), New Sunward Holding BV (Amsterdam, The Netherlands), Cemex España, SA (Madrid, Spain), CEMEX Deutschland AG (Ratingen, Germany), Cemex UK (Egham, Surrey, United Kingdom), CEMEX Czech Operations s.r.o. (Prague, Czech Republic), Cemex France Gestion (Rungis, France) and CEMEX Austria AG (Langenzersdorf, Austria) (represented by: J. Folguera Crespo, P. Vidal Martínez, H. González Durántez and B. Martínez, lawyers)
Defendant: European Commission (represented by: É. Gippini Fournier, F. Castilla Contreras and C. Hödlmayr, acting as Agents, assisted by J. Rivas, lawyer)
Re:
Application for suspension of application of Commission Decision C(2001) 2360 final of 30 March 2011 in proceedings pursuant to Article 18(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 (Case COMP/39.520 — Cement and related products).
Operative part of the order
1. |
The application for suspension of application is rejected. |
2. |
The costs are reserved. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/23 |
Order of the President of the General Court of 29 July 2011 — Holcim (Deutschland) and Holcim v Commission
(Case T-293/11 R)
(Interim relief - Competition - Request for information - Article 18(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 - Application for stay of execution - Lack of urgency)
2011/C 282/49
Language of the case: German
Parties
Applicants: Holcim AG (Hamburg, Germany) and Holcim Ltd (Rapperswil-Jona, Switzerland) (represented by: P. Niggemann and K. Gaßner, lawyers)
Defendant: European Commission (represented by: M. Kellerbauer, R. Sauer and C. Hödlmayr, acting as Agents)
Re:
Application for a stay of execution of Commission Decision C(2011) 2363 final of 30 March 2011 concerning a proceeding pursuant to Article 18(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 (Case COMP/39.520 — Cement and related products)
Operative part of the order
1. |
The application for interim relief is rejected. |
2. |
Costs are reserved. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/24 |
Order of the President of the General Court of 29 July 2011 — Cementos Portland Valderrivas v Commission
(Case T-296/11 R)
(Interim relief - Competition - Request for information - Article 18(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 - Application for stay of execution - Lack of urgency)
2011/C 282/50
Language of the case: Spanish
Parties
Applicant: Cementos Portland Valderrivas, SA (Pamplona, Spain) (represented by: L. Ortiz Blanco, lawyer)
Defendant: European Commission (represented by: F. Castilla Contreras, C. Urraca Caviedes and C. Hödlmayr, acting as Agents, and J. Rivas, lawyer)
Re:
Application for a stay of execution of Commission Decision C(2011) 2363 final of 30 March 2011 concerning a proceeding pursuant to Article 18(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 (Case COMP/39.520 — Cement and related products)
Operative part of the order
1. |
The application for interim relief is rejected. |
2. |
Costs are reserved. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/24 |
Order of the President of the General Court of 29 July 2011 — HeidelbergCement v Commission
(Case T-302/11 R)
(Interim relief - Competition - Request for information - Article 18(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 - Application for stay of execution - Lack of urgency)
2011/C 282/51
Language of the case: German
Parties
Applicant: HeidelbergCement AG (Heidelberg, Germany) (represented by: U. Denzel, T. Holzmüller and P. Pichler, lawyers)
Defendant: European Commission (represented by: M. Kellerbauer, R. Sauer and C. Hödlmayr, acting as Agents)
Re:
Application for a stay of execution of Commission Decision C(2011) 2363 final of 30 March 2011 concerning a proceeding pursuant to Article 18(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 (Case COMP/39.520 — Cement and related products)
Operative part of the order
1. |
The application for interim relief is rejected. |
2. |
Costs are reserved. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/24 |
Appeal brought on 14 June 2011 by Ioannis Vakalis against the judgment of the Civil Service Tribunal of 13 April 2011 in Case F-38/10, Vakalis v Commission
(Case T-317/11 P)
2011/C 282/52
Language of the case: French
Parties
Appellant: Ioannis Vakalis (Luvinate, Italy) (represented by S.A. Pappas, lawyer)
Other party to the proceedings: European Commission
Form of order sought by the appellant
— |
Annul the contested judgment; |
— |
Uphold the claims submitted at first instance, except that correctly held to be inadmissible by the Tribunal; |
— |
Order the Commission to pay the costs. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
The present appeal seeks the annulment of the judgment of the Civil Service Tribunal (First Chamber) of 13 April 2011, delivered in Case F-38/10 Vakalis v Commission.
In support of the appeal, the appellant relies on four pleas in law.
1. |
First plea in law, alleging inconsistency in the reasoning of the Civil Service Tribunal in that no conclusions are drawn from its findings, since it found that it is for the Commission to take account of exchange rate movements. The Commission does not take that question into account. The contested judgment is therefore vitiated by inconsistent reasoning. |
2. |
Second plea in law, alleging that the Civil Service Tribunal misconstrued the question put to it. It is apparent from the contested judgment that the Tribunal understood that the applicant asked it whether the difference in treatment of officials subject to the general implementing provisions in Articles 11 and 12 of Annex VIII to the Staff Regulations (‘the GIPs’) of 1969 and those subject to those of 2004 was unlawful, while the question asked of the Tribunal was whether ‘the new GIPs are discriminatory in that they treat different factual situations identically’. In that regard, the applicant submits that the Tribunal was incorrect to reject the plea in law alleging infringement of the principle of equal treatment. |
3. |
Third plea in law, alleging a substitution of grounds by the Tribunal. The applicant submits, firstly, that the budgetary grounds for the GIPs emerged only at the hearing and, secondly, that that ground is different from that given to the applicant in the rejection of his claim (a ground which the Tribunal, moreover, accepted was inadequate). In accordance with the case-law, it is not for the Tribunal to remedy any lack of grounds or to supplement the Commission’s grounds by adding to them or by substituting for them elements which are not apparent from the contested decision itself. |
4. |
Fourth plea in law, alleging a manifest error of assessment, since the Civil Service Tribunal rejected the ground relating to the principle of equal treatment since the applicant failed to show that there was an unjustified difference in treatment. The applicant demonstrated that the difference in treatment at issue was not justified by the introduction of the Euro, the original ground for rejection of the claim. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/25 |
Action brought on 23 June 2011 — Régie Networks and NRJ Global v Commission
(Case T-340/11)
2011/C 282/53
Language of the case: French
Parties
Applicants: Régie Networks (Lyon, France) and NRJ Global (Paris, France) (represented by: B. Geneste and C. Vannini, lawyers)
Defendant: European Commission
Form of order sought
The applicant submits that the Court should:
— |
establish the liability of the European Union for:
|
— |
order the European Commission to compensate in full for the loss resulting for the applicants from the wrongful acts referred to in the application, which loss encompasses:
|
— |
order the Commission to pay the costs. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
In support of the action, the applicant relies on two pleas in law.
1. |
First plea in law, alleging wrongful acts committed due to the unlawfulness of the Commission decision of 10 November 1997. In examining the radio broadcasting aid scheme in 1997, the Commission declared it to be compatible with the Treaty rules, without examining the manner in which that aid scheme was financed, which it was however required to do according to the Court of Justice’s well-established case-law in the area, since the financing was an integral part of the aid scheme in question. The decision thus adopted by the Commission is unlawful and is a wrongful act entailing non-contractual liability on the part of the European Union. |
2. |
Second plea in law, alleging infringement of the principle of sound administration resulting from the Commission’s failure, in 2003, to compensate for the harmful effects of its 1997 decision. The Commission found that its decision of 19 November 1997 was unlawful at the latest on 8 May 2003, when it addressed a letter to the French authorities, stating that the detailed rules for financing the radio broadcasting aid scheme, as approved most recently by the decision of 10 November 1997, were contrary to the Treaty rules. However, the Commission did not take any measures to remedy the unlawful situation thus established. It is on that basis that the applicants consider that the Commission’s failure to compensate for the harmful effects of the unlawful decision of 1997 infringes the principle of sound administration, which is a general principle of European Union law, and is therefore such as to entail liability on the part of the European Union. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/25 |
Action brought on 7 July 2011 — Makhlouf v Council
(Case T-359/11)
2011/C 282/54
Language of the case: French
Parties
Applicant: Hafez Makhlouf (Damas, Syria) (represented by: P. Grollet and G. Karouni, lawyers)
Defendant: Council of the European Union
Form of order sought
The applicant submits that the Court should:
— |
annul Council Regulation (EU) No 442/2011 of 9 May 2011 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria, in so far as it concerns the applicant; |
— |
annul Council Decision 2011/273/CFSP of 9 May 2011 concerning restrictive measures against Syria, in so far as it concerns the applicant; |
— |
annul Council Implementing Decision 2011/302/CFSP, by which the Annex to Decision 2011/273/CFSP is replaced by the text set out in the Annex to the Decision of 23 May, in so far as it concerns the applicant; |
— |
order the Council of the European Union to pay the costs, pursuant to Articles 87 and 91 of the Rules of Procedure of the General Court. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
In support of the action, the applicant relies on six pleas in law.
1. |
First plea in law, alleging infringement of the rights of the defence and the right to a fair hearing. The applicant argues that his rights of defence have been infringed by the imposition of the penalties in question, without his having previously been heard, had the opportunity to defend himself or having been informed of the evidence on the basis of which the measures were adopted. |
2. |
Second plea in law, alleging infringement of the obligation to state reasons provided for by the second paragraph of Article 296 TFEU. The applicant criticises the Council for having adopted restrictive measures in respect of him without having informed him of the grounds, in order to enable him to put forward his pleas in defence. The applicant criticises the defendant for having merely used a general, stereotypical formulation, without specifying the factual and legal elements justifying its decision and the considerations which led it to adopt that measure. |
3. |
Third plea in law, alleging infringement of the guarantee relating to effective judicial protection. The applicant argues that not only did he not have the opportunity to make his views duly known to the Council, but that, in the absence of any indication in the contested decision as to the specific and actual reasons justifying it, nor is he able to pursue his action properly before the General Court. |
4. |
Fourth plea in law, alleging infringement of the general principle of proportionality. |
5. |
Fifth plea in law, alleging infringement of the right to property, in that the restrictive measures, more specifically the measure freezing funds, constitute a disproportionate interference with the applicant’s fundamental right to dispose freely of his assets. |
6. |
Sixth plea in law, alleging infringement of the right to privacy, in that the measures freezing funds and restricting the freedom of movement also constitute a disproportionate interference with the applicant’s fundamental right. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/26 |
Action brought on 12 July 2011 — Arla Foods v OHIM — Artax (Lactofree)
(Case T-364/11)
2011/C 282/55
Language in which the application was lodged: English
Parties
Applicant: Arla Foods AMBA (Viby J, Denmark) (represented by: J. Hansen, lawyer)
Defendant: Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs)
Other party to the proceedings before the Board of Appeal: Artax Beteiligungs- und Vermögensverwaltungs AG (Linz, Austria)
Form of order sought
— |
Annul the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) of 18 April 2011 in case R 1357/2009-2, and Community trade mark registration No 4647533 be declared invalid for goods in classes 5, 29, 30 and 32 in accordance with the decision of the Cancellation Division of 11 September 2009; and |
— |
Order the defendant and the other party to the proceedings before the Board of Appeal to pay the costs of the proceedings before the Cancellation Division, before the Board of Appeal and before the General Court. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
Registered Community trade mark in respect of which a declaration of invalidity has been sought: The figurative mark ‘Lactofree’, for goods in classes 5, 29, 30 and 32 — Community trade mark registration No 4647533
Proprietor of the Community trade mark: The other party to the proceedings before the Board of Appeal
Applicant for the declaration of invalidity of the Community trade mark: The applicant
Grounds for the application for a declaration of invalidity: The party requesting the declaration of invalidity grounded its request pursuant to Articles 53(1)(a) and 8(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 207/2009, which was based on the earlier Community trade mark registration No 4532751 for the figurative mark (in colour) ‘lactofree’, for goods in class 29
Decision of the Cancellation Division: Upheld the cancellation for a part of the goods
Decision of the Board of Appeal: Annulled the decision of the Cancellation Division and dismissed the request for a declaration of invalidity
Pleas in law: Infringement of Articles 53(1)(a) and 8(1)(b) of Council Regulation No 207/2009, as the Board of Appeal erred in its evaluation of the comparison of the signs and thus in the overall assessment as to the likelihood of confusion between the figurative marks ‘lactofree’ and ‘Lactofree’.
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/27 |
Appeal brought on 5 July 2011 by AO against the order of the Civil Service Tribunal of 4 April 2011 in Case F-45/10 AO v Commission
(Case T-365/11 P)
2011/C 282/56
Language of the case: English
Parties
Appellant: AO (Brussels, Belgium) (represented by: P. Lewisch, lawyer)
Other party to the proceedings: European Commission
Form of order sought by the appellant
— |
Set aside the order of the Civil Service Tribunal of 4 April 2011 in Case F-45/10 AO v Commission; |
— |
In case the General Court is in the position to decide the case on the merits to give the same form of order as sought at first instance, i.e. to:
|
— |
Order the other party to the proceedings to pay all costs. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
In support of the appeal, the appellant relies on three pleas in law.
1. |
First plea in law, alleging that the conditions for a decision by order in accordance with Article 76 of the Rules of Procedure of the Civil Service Tribunal were not met and that the action was not manifestly bound to fail, as:
|
2. |
Second plea in law, alleging that the order in case F-45/10 infringes European Union law as described under Article 11(1) of Annex I to the Statute of the Court of Justice of the European Union, as the applicant is entitled to compensation since harassment took place. |
3. |
Third plea in law, alleging the Civil Service Tribunal violated the right of the applicant to a hearing, as provided in Article 6(1) of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, as well as in Article 47(2) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. |
(1) Regulation No 31 (EEC), 11 (EAEC), laying down the Staff Regulations of Officials and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community, as amended (OJ English special edition: Series I Chapter 1959-1962, p. 135)
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/28 |
Action brought on 4 July 2011 — Lyder Enterprises v CPVO Liner Plants NZ (1993) (Southern Splendour)
(Case T-367/11)
2011/C 282/57
Language in which the application was lodged: English
Parties
Applicant: Lyder Enterprises Ltd (Auckland, New Zealand) (represented by: G. Pickering, Solicitor)
Defendant: Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO)
Other party to the proceedings before the Board of Appeal: Liner Plants NZ (1993) Ltd (Waitakere, New Zealand)
Form of order sought
— |
Set aside and annul the decision of the Board of Appeal of the Community Plant Variety Office of 18 February 2011 in case A007/2010; and |
— |
Stay the proceedings until the final decision of the High Court of New Zealand in case No CIV:2011:404:2969 is taken. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
Applicant for Community plant variety right: The applicant
Community plant variety right concerned: Southern Splendour — Community plant variety right application No 2006/1888
Objector to the Community plant variety right application: The other party to the proceedings before the Board of Appeal
Grounds of the objection: The objection was based on the contention that the applicant was not the person who bred, or discovered and developed the variety, or his successor in title
Decision of the Committee of the CPVO: Refused the application No 2006/1888 for the variety ‘Southern Splendour’ (Decision No R972)
Decision of the Board of Appeal: Dismissed the appeal
Pleas in law: Infringement of the audi alteram partum rule, lack of competence, failure to understand the fundamental rules of natural justice and infringement of an essential procedural requirement, as the Board of Appeal decided that the evidence contained in the applicant’s letters was not acceptable as it was not in affidavit format.
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/28 |
Action brought on 8 July 2011 — Polyelectrolyte Producers Group e.a./Commission
(Case T-368/11)
2011/C 282/58
Language of the case: English
Parties
Applicants: Polyelectrolyte Producers Group (Brussels, Belgium), SNF SAS (Andrezieux Boutheon, France) and Travetanche Injection SPRL (Brussels, Belgium) (represented by: K. Van Maldegem and R. Cana, lawyers)
Defendant: European Commission
Form of order sought
— |
Annul the Commission Regulation (EU) No 366/2011 of 14 April 2011 amending Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) as regards Annex XVII (Acrylamide) (OJ 2011 L 101, p. 12); |
— |
Order the Commission to pay the cost and expenses. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
In support of the action, the applicant relies on three pleas in law.
1. |
First plea in law, alleging
|
2. |
Second plea in law, alleging
|
3. |
Third plea in law, alleging
|
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/29 |
Action brought on 5 July 2011 — Diadikasia Symbouloi Epicheiriseon/Commission and others
(Case T-369/11)
2011/C 282/59
Language of the case: English
Parties
Applicant: Diadikasia Symbouloi Epicheiriseon AE (Chalandri, Greece) (represented by: A. Krystallidis, lawyer)
Defendants: European Commission; EU Delegation to Turkey (Ankara, Turkey); and Central Finance & Contracts Unit (CFCU) (Ankara)
Form of order sought
— |
Make good damages caused to the applicant by the allegedly unlawful decision of one of the defendants (EU Delegation to Turkey) of 5 April 2011 (and any subsequent one) cancelling the award of tender: Enlargement of the European Turkish Business Centres Network to Sivas, Antakya, Batman and Van — Europe Aid/128621/D/SER/TR to the Consortium (1) due to allegedly made a ‘false declaration’; |
— |
Order the defendants to pay the costs. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
In support of the action, the applicant relies on six pleas in law.
1. |
First plea in law, alleging
|
2. |
Second plea in law, alleging
|
3. |
Third plea in law, alleging
|
4. |
Fourth plea in law, alleging
|
5. |
Fifth plea in law, alleging
|
6. |
Sixth plea in law, alleging
|
(1) ‘DIADIKASIA BUSINESS CONSULTANTS S.A. (GR) — WYG INTERNATIONAL LTD (UK) — DELEEUW INTERNATIONAL LTD (TR) — CYBERPARK (TR)’
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/29 |
Action brought on 15 July 2011 — Palirria Souliotis v Commission
(Case T-380/11)
2011/C 282/60
Language of the case: English
Parties
Applicant: Anonymi Viotechniki kai Emporiki Etairia Kataskevis Konservon — Palirria Souliotis AE (Psacha, Greece) (represented by: S. Pappas, lawyer)
Defendant: European Commission
Form of order sought
— |
Annul Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 447/2011 of 6 May 2011 concerning the classification of certain goods in the Combined Nomenclature (OJ 2011 L 122, p. 63); and |
— |
Order the Commission to bear the costs of the proceedings. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
In support of the action, the applicant relies on three pleas in law.
1. |
First plea in law, alleging that the Commission infringed an essential procedural requirement as it failed to properly consult the Nomenclature Committee. In addition, the Commission failed to address the opinion submitted by the applicant. |
2. |
Second plea in law, alleging that the Commission exceeded the limits of the powers conferred upon it by Article 9 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 of 23 July 1987 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff (OJ 1987 L 256, p. 1) |
3. |
Third plea in law, alleging that the Commission erred in law by classifying tinned stuff wine leaves under the CN-code set out in the annex to the contested regulation. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/30 |
Action brought on 15 July 2011 — Pigui v Commission
(Case T-382/11)
2011/C 282/61
Language of the case: English
Parties
Applicant: Cristina Pigui (Strejnic, Romania) (represented by: M. Alexe, lawyer)
Defendant: European Commission
Form of order sought
— |
Oblige the defendant to disclose information as to the identity of any higher education institution involved in the online Master 2008-2010 of the Jean Monnet programme; |
— |
Oblige the defendant to stop the program if no higher education institution is involved, to ask written study contract between students and organizers and to ask for a uniform system of evaluation for all students involved; and |
— |
Oblige the Commission to restore the ab initio situation of the applicant showing that the 2008-2010 programme did not meet the Jean Monnet programme standards, at least in so far as the applicant is concerned. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
By means of its application the applicant seeks, pursuant to Article 265 TFUE, a declaration that the defendant unlawfully failed to act, as it did not disclose the results of the public investigation requested by the applicant.
In support of the action, the applicant relies on four pleas in law.
1. |
First plea in law, alleging that the defendant infringed Article 6(3) and 15 of Decision No 1720/2006/EC (1), as it failed to investigate and disclose information as requested by the applicant, as well as Articles 11 and 38 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, as the defendant infringed the transparency principle and consumer protection laws. |
2. |
Second plea in law, alleging that the defendant infringed Article 4 and 5 of Directive 97/7/EC (2) and Articles 2(a)(b) and 5 of Directive 2005/29/EC (3) as it failed to investigate and evaluate the online master of the Jean Monet programme against its objectives in accordance with Article 15 of Decision No 1720/2006/EC. |
3. |
Third plea in law, alleging that the defendant infringed Article 5 of Directive 97/7/EC and Articles 2(a)(b), 6 and 7 of Directive 2005/29/EC, as it failed to investigate the double standard of students’ evaluation system. |
4. |
Fourth plea in law, alleging that the defendant infringed Article 14 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, as well as Article 2 of Protocol No 1 to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, as the applicant did not receive equal treatment in the framework of the online master of the Jean Monnet programme. |
(1) Decision No 1720/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 November 2006 establishing an action programme in the field of lifelong learning (OJ 2006 L 327, p. 45)
(2) Directive 97/7/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 1997 on the protection of consumers in respect of distance contracts (OJ 1997 L 144, p. 19)
(3) Directive 2005/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2005 concerning unfair business-to-consumer commercial practices in the internal market and amending Council Directive 84/450/EEC, Directives 97/7/EC, 98/27/EC and 2002/65/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (‘Unfair Commercial Practices Directive’) (OJ 2005 L 149, p. 22)
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/30 |
Action brought on 21 July 2011 — Makhlouf v Council
(Case T-383/11)
2011/C 282/62
Language of the case: French
Parties
Applicant: Eyad Makhlouf (Damas, Syria) (represented by: P. Grollet and G. Karouni, lawyers)
Defendant: Council of the European Union
Form of order sought
— |
Annul Council Implementing Decision 2011/302/CFSP of 23 May 2011 implementing Decision 2011/273/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Syria, to the extent that it affects the applicant in that it infringes fundamental rights; |
— |
Order the Council of the European Union to pay the costs pursuant to Articles 87 and 91 of the Rules of Procedure of the General Court. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
In support of the action, the applicant relies on seven pleas in law.
1. |
First plea in law, alleging infringement of the rights of the defence and of the right to a fair hearing. The applicant submits that his rights of the defence have been infringed since the sanctions at issue have been applied to him, without his having previously been heard, having the opportunity of defending himself or having any knowledge of the basis on which those measures have been taken. |
2. |
Second plea in law, alleging infringement of the duty to state reasons laid down in the second paragraph of Article 296 TFEU. The applicant complains that the Council has taken restrictive measures affecting him, without having informed him of the grounds thereof in order to enable him to defend himself. The applicant argues that the defendant gave information merely in a general and stereotypical manner without giving precise details the factual and legal elements which form the legal justification for its decision or the considerations which led it to adopt that decision. |
3. |
Third plea in law, concerning the merits of the reasoning. The applicant submits that the Council relied on a manifestly incorrect reasoning and that it used a synthesis thereof, such that it could not be regarded as adequate in law. |
4. |
Fourth plea in law, alleging breach of the guarantee in respect of the right to effective legal protection. The applicant submits that not only was he unable effectively to make his views known to the Council, but, in the absence of any indication in the contested decision of specific and concrete grounds justifying that decision, nor was he in a position to avail himself of a right of action before the General Court. |
5. |
Fifth plea in law, alleging infringement of the general principle of proportionality. |
6. |
Sixth plea in law, alleging infringement of the right of property, since the restrictive measures and, more precisely, the measure freezing funds, disproportionately affecting the applicant’s fundamental right to use his assets as he sees fit. |
7. |
Seventh plea in law, alleging infringement of the right of privacy, since the measures freezing funds and restricting his freedom from restraint also disproportionately affect the applicant’s fundamental right. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/31 |
Action brought on 22 July 2011 — Safa Nicu Sepahan v Council
(Case T-384/11)
2011/C 282/63
Language of the case: English
Parties
Applicant: Safa Nicu Sepahan (Isfahan, Iran) (represented by: A. Bahrami, lawyer)
Defendant: Council of the European Union
Form of order sought
— |
Declare that entry No. 19 of Annex VIII to Council Regulation (EU) No 961/2010 of 25 October 2010 on restrictive measures against Iran and repealing Regulation (EC) No 423/2007 (OJ 2010 L 281, p. 1), as amended by Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 503/2011 of 23 May 2011 implementing Regulation (EU) No 961/2010 on restrictive measures against Iran (OJ 2011 L 136, p. 26), is null and void; |
— |
Declare that the defendant has violated Article 265 TFEU by failing to examine the applicant’s request dated 7 June 2011 for reconsideration of entry No 19; |
— |
Order removal of the name of the applicant from EU list of sanctions; |
— |
Award the applicant compensation, for an amount to be determined in the course of the present proceedings, but not less than EUR 2 000 000,00; and |
— |
Order the defendant to pay the applicant’s costs. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
In support of the action, the applicant relies on two pleas in law.
1. |
First plea in law, alleging that the Council committed a manifest error of appreciation as the inclusion of the name of the applicant on the list of persons and entities subject to restrictive measures is erroneous, misleading, unspecific, incomplete and, therefore, plainly illegal. |
2. |
Second plea in law, alleging that the Council has manifestly failed to state the reasons for the inclusion of the name of the applicant on the list of persons and entities subject to restrictive measures. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/32 |
Action brought on 21 July 2011 — BP Products North America v Council
(Case T-385/11)
2011/C 282/64
Language of the case: English
Parties
Applicant: BP Products North America, Inc. (Naperville, United States) (represented by: H.-J. Prieß and B. Sachs, lawyers and C. Farrar, solicitor)
Defendant: Council of the European Union
Form of order sought
— |
Annul Article 2 of Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 443/2011 (1) of 5 May 2011, insofar as it affects the applicant; |
— |
Annul Article 2 of Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 444/2011 (2) of 5 May 2011, insofar as it affects the applicant; and |
— |
Order the defendant to pay the applicant’s costs pursuant to Article 87 of the Rules of Procedure of the General Court. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
In support of the action, the applicant relies on four pleas in law.
1. |
First plea in law, alleging violation of the basic anti-dumping and countervailing duty regulations by extending Council Regulations (EC) No 598/2009 and No 599/2009 on biodiesel imports originating in the United States of America (3) to biodiesel products not originally covered by the anti-dumping and countervailing duty regulations, rather than by carrying out a ‘de novo’ investigation, even though the blends now subject to Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 444/2011 were specifically excluded from the scope of Council Regulations (EC) No 598/2009 and No 599/2009. |
2. |
Second plea in law, alleging manifest errors of appraisal as regards the assessment of facts, in particular with regard to the fact that the lower blended biodiesel products (and not subject to any duty) cannot be re-converted to higher blends (that are subject to the duty), so that circumvention is actually not possible, and as regards an alleged circumvention by the applicant by manifestly erring the economic justifications for the exports by the applicant. |
3. |
Third plea in law, alleging violation of an essential procedural requirement by failing to provide adequate reasoning in Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 444/2011 for the extension of the definitive duties to biodiesel products of blends of 20 % and lower. |
4. |
Fourth plea in law, alleging violation of the basic European Union law principles of non-discrimination and good administration, by not according to the applicant the duty rate applicable to ‘cooperating companies’ despite the fact that the applicant did fully cooperate. |
(1) Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 443/2011 of 5 May 2011 extending the definitive countervailing duty imposed by Regulation (EC) No 598/2009 on imports of biodiesel originating in the United States of America to imports of biodiesel consigned from Canada, whether declared as originating in Canada or not, and extending the definitive countervailing duty imposed by Regulation (EC) No 598/2009 to imports of biodiesel in a blend containing by weight 20 % or less of biodiesel originating in the United States of America, and terminating the investigation in respect of imports consigned from Singapore (OJ 2011 L 122, p. 1)
(2) Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 444/2011 of 5 May 2011 extending the definitive anti-dumping duty imposed by Regulation (EC) No 599/2009 on imports of biodiesel originating in the United States of America to imports of biodiesel consigned from Canada, whether declared as originating in Canada or not, and extending the definitive anti-dumping duty imposed by Regulation (EC) No 599/2009 to imports of biodiesel in a blend containing by weight 20 % or less of biodiesel originating in the United States of America, and terminating the investigation in respect of imports consigned from Singapore (OJ 2011 L 122, p. 12)
(3) Council Regulation (EC) No 598/2009 of 7 July 2009 imposing a definitive countervailing duty and collecting definitively the provisional duty imposed on imports of biodiesel originating in the United States of America (OJ 2009 L 179, p. 1) and Council Regulation (EC) No 599/2009 of 7 July 2009 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty and collecting definitively the provisional duty imposed on imports of biodiesel originating in the United States of America (OJ 2009 L 179, p. 26)
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/32 |
Action brought on 22 July 2011 — Nitrogénművek Vegyipari v Commission
(Case T-387/11)
2011/C 282/65
Language of the case: English
Parties
Applicant: Nitrogénművek Vegyipari Zrt. (Pétfürdő, Republic of Hungary) (represented by: Z. Tamás and M. Le Berre, lawyers)
Defendant: European Commission
Form of order sought
— |
Annul the contested Commission Decision of 27 October 2010 on State aid C 14/09 (ex NN 17/09) granted by Hungary to Péti Nitrogénművek Zrt. (notified under document C(2010) 7274); and |
— |
Order the Commission to pay its own costs and those incurred by the applicant. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
In support of the action, the applicant relies on six pleas in law.
1. |
First plea in law, alleging
|
2. |
Second plea in law, alleging
|
3. |
Third plea in law, alleging
|
4. |
Fourth plea in law, alleging
|
5. |
Fifth plea in law, alleging
|
6. |
Sixth plea in law (as alternative to the first and second pleas), alleging
|
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/33 |
Action brought on 22 July 2011 — Deutsche Post v Commission
(Case T-388/11)
2011/C 282/66
Language of the case: German
Parties
Applicant: Deutsche Post AG (Bonn, Germany) (represented by: J. Sedemund, T. Lübbig and M. Klasse, lawyers)
Defendant: European Commission
Form of order sought
— |
annul the Commission decision of 10 May 2011 in the State aid case C 36/2007 — Germany, State aid to Deutsche Post AG (C(2011) 3081 final); |
— |
order the defendant to pay the costs of the proceedings. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
The applicant seeks the annulment of Commission Decision C(2011) 3081 final of 10 May 2011 in State aid case C 36/2007 — Germany, State aid to Deutsche Post AG, by which the Commission decided to extend the investigation procedure under Article 108(2) TFEU in that case. The extension relates to the State financing of pensions of officials engaged by Deutsche Bundespost prior to the establishment of the applicant, a matter which was already the subject-matter of the Commission’s decision of 12 September 2007 to open proceedings in the present case.
In support of its action, the applicant puts forward six pleas in law.
1. |
First plea in law: breach of Article 107(1) TFEU — Manifestly erroneous classification as aid The manifest error of assessment committed by the Commission lies in the fact that the Commission failed to apply the Combus case-law (judgment in Case T-157/01 Danske Busvognmænd v Commission [2004] ECR II-917) to the present case. According to that case-law, measures which relieve former State undertakings from pension burdens which go beyond those normally borne by private undertakings do not constitute aid. Applied to the facts of the present case, it must necessarily follow that the State financing of pension liabilities cannot constitute aid. |
2. |
Second plea in law: breach of Article 1(b) of Regulation No 659/1999, (1) Article 107 TFEU and Article 108 TFEU — Manifest error of appraisal in the classification as ‘new’ aid The Commission’s patent error of assessment lies in the fact that the Commission failed to have regard for the fact that State liability for pension obligations — if the conditions for a finding that there is aid are at all met — can relate only to existing aid. The ongoing liability of the Federal authorities for the pension obligations results from the German Grundgesetz (Basic Law), and thus already existed when the Treaties entered into force and has since then undergone no essential alteration. Furthermore, the Commission is bound by the declaration in Case T-266/02 Deutsche Post v Commission [2008] ECR II-1233 that, with regard to pension regulation, it denied that there was precondition that there must be an aid-related ‘advantage’ already in its decision of 19 June 2002, which is equivalent to a negative certification under the law relating to aid. |
3. |
Third plea in law: breach of Article 107(1) TFEU — Manifestly erroneous method for calculating the alleged aid The applicant alleges that the Commission failed to carry out the compensatory calculation, which by its own submission was necessary, of the social benefits for officials actually borne by the applicant, less alleged ‘surcharges’ for social burdens unusual in competition in the prices authorised for the regulated products, and of the social contributions to be borne under normal market conditions by private competitors. The Commission’s method of calculation thus impermissibly excludes totally the level of the actual social benefits paid by the applicant for officials, with the result that it is immaterial for the level of the alleged aid calculated by the Commission whether and to what extent the applicant deducted social benefits. The applicant further submits that the alleged ‘surcharges’ in the prices are not verifiable and that, in any case, the social costs which are not normal in competition cannot in fact be covered by the results. |
4. |
Fourth plea in law: breach of Article 107(1) TFEU — Manifestly erroneous classification of the alleged ‘cross-subsidisation’ of the non-regulated area by the regulated area as a factor determining the existence of aid In this connection, the applicant submits, in particular, that the Commission failed to carry out the requisite over-compensation calculation and failed to check whether the State compensation payments had at all exceeded the costs in respect of which compensation was payable. |
5. |
Fifth plea in law: breach of Article 107(1) TFEU — Manifest error in the application of the benchmark of the social burdens usual in competition The applicant submits in this regard in particular that, in its calculation of the social contributions of private employers which are usual in competition, the Commission included employees’ contributions, even though these are attributable to the assets of the employees and not to the social contributions to be borne by the employer; furthermore, the Commission, for the purpose of the benchmark, took as its point of reference the (excessive) level of salaries of officials instead of the wage and salary level of private undertakings usual in competition. If these two errors are corrected, as is required, the alleged aid disappears entirely. |
6. |
Sixth plea in law: breach of the second paragraph of Article 296 TFEU — Failure to state reasons Finally, the applicant submits, the contested decision is not adequately reasoned. |
(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 of 22 March 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the EC Treaty (OJ 1999 L 83, p. 1).
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/34 |
Action brought on 18 July 2011 — Guccio Gucci v OHIM Chang Qing Qing (GUDDY)
(Case T-389/11)
2011/C 282/67
Language in which the application was lodged: English
Parties
Applicant: Guccio Gucci SpA (Firenze, Italy) (represented by: F. Jacobacci, lawyer)
Defendant: Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs)
Other party to the proceedings before the Board of Appeal: Chang Qing Qing (Firenze, Italy)
Form of order sought
— |
Annul the decision of the First Board of Appeal of the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) of 14 April 2011 in case R 143/2010-1 insofar as it rejected the opposition for the remainder of goods in classes 9 and 14; and |
— |
Order the defendant to pay the costs. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
Applicant for a Community trade mark: The other party to the proceedings before the Board of Appeal
Community trade mark concerned: The word mark ‘GUDDY’, for various goods in classes 9, 14, 18 and 25 — Community trade mark application No 6799531
Proprietor of the mark or sign cited in the opposition proceedings: The applicant
Mark or sign cited in opposition: Community trade mark registration No 121988 of the word mark ‘GUCCI’, for goods in classes 9, 14, 18 and 25
Decision of the Opposition Division: Rejected the opposition
Decision of the Board of Appeal: Partially annulled the decision of the Opposition Division and partially dismissed the appeal
Pleas in law: Infringement of Article 8(1)(b) of Council Regulation No 207/2009, as the Board of Appeal failed (i) to examine accurately the documents submitted to reach the appropriate conclusion regarding the higher distinctiveness of the trademark ‘GUCCI’ and as regards the phonetic comparison between the trademarks and subsequently erred in (ii) interpreting and applying Article 8(1)(b) of the Community Trade Mark Regulation.
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/35 |
Action brought on 26 July 2011 — Masottina v OHIM — Bodegas Cooperativas de Alicante (CA' MARINA)
(Case T-393/11)
2011/C 282/68
Language in which the application was lodged: English
Parties
Applicant: Masottina SpA [Conegliano (TV), Italy] (represented by: N. Schaeffer, lawyer)
Defendant: Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs)
Other party to the proceedings before the Board of Appeal: Bodegas Cooperativas de Alicante, trading as Coop. V. BOCOPA (Alicante, Spain)
Form of order sought
— |
Annul and rescind the decision of the First Board of Appeal of the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) of 4 May 2011 in case R 518/2010-1, as well as the decision of the Opposition Division of 2 February 2010 |
— |
Decline and reject the action formed by Bodegas Cooperativas de Alicante, Coop. V. BOCOPA, and by which it opposed the registration of the trademark ‘CA’ MARINA’, and admit the application for registration of the Community trademark No 6375216 to which Masottina SpA shall be entitled; and |
— |
Sentence Bodegas Cooperativas de Alicante, Coop. V. BOCOPA, to payment of all court and related costs. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
Applicant for a Community trade mark: The applicant
Community trade mark concerned: The word mark ‘CA’ MARINA’, for goods in class 33 — Community trade mark application No 6375216
Proprietor of the mark or sign cited in the opposition proceedings: The other party to the proceedings before the Board of Appeal
Mark or sign cited in opposition: Community trade mark registration No 1796374 of the word mark ‘MARINA ALTA’, for goods in class 33
Decision of the Opposition Division: Rejected the CTM application for all the goods
Decision of the Board of Appeal: Dismissed the appeal
Pleas in law: Infringement of Article 8(1)(b) of Council Regulation No 40/94, as the Board of Appeal erroneously applied the above mentioned Article: (i) as regards the absence or at least an insufficient determination and distinction of the trademark ‘MARINA ALTA’; (ii) as there is no existence of any risk of confusion in respect of the concerned signs; and (iii) regarding the lacking consideration that there does not exist any identity of the merchandises, their respective channels of distribution and the public of reference.
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/35 |
Action brought on 26 July 2011 — Elti v Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro
(Case T-395/11)
2011/C 282/69
Language of the case: English
Parties
Applicant: Elti d.o.o. (Gornja Radgona, Republic of Slovenia) (represented by: N. Zidar Klemenčič, lawyer)
Defendant: European Union, represented by the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro
Form of order sought
— |
Declare the defendant in violation of Article 2 and 30(3) of Directive 2004/18/EC (1); |
— |
Annul the negotiation procedure conducted in the framework of the tender procedure ‘Support to the Digitalisation of the Montenegrin Public Broadcasting — Supply of equipment, Montenegro’ (reference EuropaAid/129435/C/SUP/ME-NP) (OJ 2010/S 178-270613), since the applicant had not been given an equal treatment and, as a result, it had not been able to correct/explain its tender; |
— |
Annul the contract award decision in the above mentioned tender procedure; |
— |
In the event the contract had already been concluded, to declare such contract null and void; |
— |
In the alternative, if the contract had already been carried out when the Court gives judgment, or the decision can no longer be declared void, declare the defendant in violation of Article 2 and 30(3) of Directive 2004/18/EC and order defendant to pay the applicant damages of EUR 172 541,56 as compensation for the loss suffered by the applicant in regard to that procedure; and |
— |
Order the defendant to pay the applicant’s costs, including the costs of any intervening party. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
In support of the action, the applicant relies on one plea in law.
1. |
First plea in law, alleging that the defendant violated Articles 2 and 30(3) of Directive 2004/18/EC, as:
|
(1) Directive 2004/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on the coordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts (OJ 2004 L 134, p. 114)
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/36 |
Action brought on 26 July 2011 — Symfiliosi/FRA
(Case T-397/11)
2011/C 282/70
Language of the case: English
Parties
Applicant: Symfiliosi (Nicosia, Republic of Cyprus) (represented by: L. Christodoulou, lawyer)
Defendant: European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)
Form of order sought
— |
Annul the decision of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights of 23 May 2011 to award the first framework contract under the tender procedure F/SE/10/03 — Lot 12 Cyprus to First Elements and the second framework contract to Symfiliosi; |
— |
Order the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights to pay the costs. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
In support of the action, the applicant relies on one main plea in law, alleging that the Agency failed to provide reasons for its decision. It further contests the substance of the evaluation of tendering bids, alleging that the latter had been arbitrary, unreasonable and unlawful.
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/36 |
Action brought on 29 July 2011 — Banco Santander and Santusa v Commission
(Case T-399/11)
2011/C 282/71
Language of the case: Spanish
Parties
Applicants: Banco Santander, SA (Santander, Spain), Santusa Holding, SL (Boadilla del Monte, Spain) (represented by: J. Buendía Sierra, E. Abad Valdenebro, R. Calvo Salinero, and M. Muñoz de Juan, lawyers)
Defendant: European Commission
Form of order sought
The applicants claim that the General Court should:
— |
admit and uphold the pleas for annulment contained in the application and consequently annul Article 1(1) of the contested decision, which classifies Article 12(5) of the Texto Refundido de la Ley del Impuesto sobre Sociedades (‘TRLIS’) (consolidated text of the Law on Corporation Tax) as State aid; |
— |
alternatively, annul Article 1(1) of the contested decision in so far as it declares that Article 12(5) TRLIS contains elements of State aid when it applies to acquisitions of majority shareholdings; |
— |
alternatively, annul Article 4 of the contested decision in so far as it makes the recovery order applicable to transactions completed prior to the publication in the Official Journal of the European Union of the final decision which is the subject-matter of this action (OJ 2011 L 135, p. 1); |
— |
alternatively, annul Article 1(1), and in the further alternative Article 4, in so far as they relate to transactions in Mexico, the United States and Brazil; |
— |
order the Commission to pay the costs of these proceedings. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
This action is brought against Commission Decision C(2010) 9566 of 12 January 2011 on the tax amortisation of financial goodwill for foreign shareholding acquisitions.
In support of their action, the applicants rely on three pleas in law.
1. |
First plea in law, alleging a manifest error of law in the analysis of the concept of selectivity and in classifying the measure at issue as State aid.
|
2. |
Second plea in law, alleging an error of law in determining the beneficiary of the measure.
|
3. |
Third plea in law, alleging infringement of the general legal principle of the protection of legitimate expectations, with regard to the manner in which the temporal scope of the recovery order is defined.
|
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/37 |
Action brought on 29 July 2011 — Altadis v Commission
(Case T-400/11)
2011/C 282/72
Language of the case: Spanish
Parties
Applicant: Altadis, SA (Madrid, Spain) (represented by: J. Buendía Sierra, E. Abad Valdenebro, R. Calvo Salinero, and M. Muñoz de Juan, lawyers)
Defendant: European Commission
Form of order sought
The applicant claims that the General Court should:
— |
admit and uphold the request for evidence; |
— |
admit and uphold the pleas for annulment contained in the application; |
— |
annul Article 1(1) of the contested decision in so far as it declares that Article 12(5) of the Texto Refundido de la Ley del Impuesto sobre Sociedades (‘TRLIS’) (consolidated text of the Law on Corporation Tax) contains elements of State aid when it applies to acquisitions of shareholdings entailing acquisition of control; |
— |
alternatively, annul Article 4 of the contested decision in so far as it makes the recovery order applicable to transactions completed prior to the publication in the Official Journal of the European Union of the final decision which is the subject-matter of this action; |
— |
alternatively, annul Article 1(1), and in the further alternative Article 4, of the contested decision in so far as they relate to transactions in Morocco; |
— |
order the Commission to pay the costs of these proceedings. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
This action is brought against Commission Decision C(2010) 9566 of 12 January 2011 on the tax amortisation of financial goodwill for foreign shareholding acquisitions.
The pleas in law and main arguments are those already raised in Case T-399/11 Banco de Santander and Santusa Holding v Commission.
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/38 |
Appeal brought on 27 July 2011 by Livio Missir Mamachi di Lusignano against the judgment of the Civil Service Tribunal of 12 May 2011 in Case F-50/09, Livio Missir Mamachi di Lusignano v Commission
(Case T-401/11 P)
2011/C 282/73
Language of the case: Italian
Parties
Appellant: Livio Missir Mamachi di Lusignano (Kerkhove-Avelgem, Belgium) (represented by F. Di Gianni, R. Antonini, G. Coppo and A. Scalini, lawyers)
Other party to the proceedings: European Commission
Form of order sought by the appellant
The appellant claims that the Court should:
— |
Set aside the judgment of the Civil Service Tribunal (First Chamber) of 12 May 2011 in Case F-50/09 Livio Missir Macachi di Lusignano v European Commission rejecting the action brought by Livio Missir Mamachi di Lusignano under Article 236 EC and Article 90(2) of the Staff Regulations for annulment of decision of the appointing authority of 3 February 2009 and an order that the Commission pay compensation for the material and non-material damage arising as a result of the murder of Alessandro Missir Mamachi di Lusignano and his wife; |
— |
Order the Commission to pay to the appellant and the successors of Alessandro Missir Mamachi di Lusignano represented by the appellant a sum of money by way of compensation for the material and non-material damage sustained by them as well as the non-material damage suffered by the victim before his death; |
— |
Order the Commission to pay the costs of the proceedings. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
The appellant relies on three grounds in support of his appeal:
1. |
First ground, alleging that the Civil Service Tribunal erred in holding that the claim for compensation for the non-material damage suffered by the appellant, Alessandro Missir and his heirs was inadmissible. In support of that ground, the appellant submits, first, that the Civil Service Tribunal applied in an illogical, incorrect and discriminatory manner what is known as the rule on consistency, which requires identity of cause and subject-matter solely between the complaint submitted under Article 90(2) of the Staff Regulations and the appeal lodged under Article 91 of those regulations, not between the request under Article 90(1) and the complaint under Article 90(2). Second, the appellant submits that the Civil Service Tribunal’s interpretation of the rule on consistency gives rise to a limitation on the exercise of the fundamental right to effective judicial protection, enshrined, inter alia, in Article 47 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. |
2. |
The second ground of appeal, alleging that the Civil Service Tribunal erred in finding that the Commission was only 40 % responsible for the damage caused. In support of this ground, the appellant submits that the Civil Service Tribunal made an incorrect assessment of the relationship between the Commission’s unlawful conduct and the possible consequences of that failure to act, since the damage caused to the official was the direct and foreseeable consequence of that institution’s negligent conduct. Moreover, the appellant submits that, while the damage came about as a result of various contributory causes, the Commission is to be held jointly and severally liable with the murderer for the compensation for the damage. It follows that 100 % of the appellant’s claim for compensation to be paid by the Commission should be granted. |
3. |
The third ground, alleging that the Civil Service Tribunal erred in finding that, as a result of the benefits already paid to Alessandro Missir’s heirs, the Commission has fully compensated for the damage for which it is responsible. In support of the third ground, the appellant submits that, in the light of the principles to be inferred from European Union case-law, benefits other than those referred to in Article 73 cannot contribute to the compensation for the damage, since such benefits differ from compensation for damage under European Union law on account of the grounds and conditions on which they are granted and their purpose. Consequently, as the Commission has failed to compensate fully for the damage for which it is responsible, it must be ordered to pay to the appellant a sufficient amount to ensure full compensation for the damage suffered by the murdered official and his successors. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/39 |
Action brought on 29 July 2011 — Preparados Alimenticios del Sur v Commission
(Case T-402/11)
2011/C 282/74
Language of the case: Spanish
Parties
Applicant: Preparados Alimenticios del Sur, SL (Murcia, Spain) (represented by: I. Acero Campos, lawyer)
Defendant: European Commission
Form of order sought
The applicant claims that the General Court should:
— |
annul the decision to return to the Spanish customs authority the dossier on the application for remission; |
— |
order the Commission to adjudicate upon the application for remission submitted by Prealisur S.L. which directly affects the application submitted by Zukan S.L.; |
— |
so that it may adjudicate upon that application, order the Commission to take the necessary measures and steps, even it means taking measures against the Spanish customs authority, in order to obtain all the necessary information to decide the case, including the documents which the Commission states that it has requested from Spanish customs but which the latter has not yet supplied; |
— |
order the European Commission to pay the costs. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
This action is brought against the European Commission’s decision of 29 June 2011, returning to the Spanish customs authority the dossier on the applicant’s application for remission so that that authority might adjudicate upon the application (Dossier No. 003-004-005-006-2009 RRPP-J Y REC 04/10), on the basis that the Commission did not have sufficient information to decide the case itself. The Spanish customs authority had previously transmitted the dossier to the Commission on the basis of Article 220(2)(b) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 of 12 October 1992 establishing the Community Customs Code (OJ 1992 L 302, p. 1).
In support of its action, the applicant relies on four pleas in law.
1. |
First plea in law, alleging infringement of certain articles of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code (OJ 1993 L 253, p. 1).
|
2. |
Second plea in law, alleging infringement of Article 220(2)(b) of the Customs Code, in so far as that article does not — contrary to the Commission’s understanding — provide that the Customs authority’s error must be an active one, the dossier being returned due to a lack of information from the party making the error, that is, the Spanish customs authority itself. |
3. |
Third plea in law, alleging infringement of the Commission’s Rules of Procedure and, in particular, of the Annex containing the Code of Good Administrative Behaviour for Staff of the European Commission in their Relations with the Public.
|
4. |
Fourth plea in law, alleging infringement of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
|
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/40 |
Action brought on 29 July 2011 — Axa Mediterranean v Commission
(Case T-405/11)
2011/C 282/75
Language of the case: Spanish
Parties
Applicant: Axa Mediterranean Holding, SA (Palma de Mallorca, Spain) (represented by: J. Buendía Sierra, E. Abad Valdenebro, R. Calvo Salinero and M. Muñoz de Juan, lawyers)
Defendant: European Commission
Form of order sought
— |
Admit and uphold the request for the taking of evidence; |
— |
admit and uphold the grounds for annulment set out in this application; |
— |
annul Article 1(1) of the Decision insofar as it declares that Article 12(5) of the Spanish Law on corporation tax comprises elements of State aid; |
— |
alternatively, annul Article 1(1) of the Decision insofar as it declares that Article 12(5) of the Spanish Law on corporation tax comprises elements of State aid when applied to shareholding acquisitions that involve acquisition of control; |
— |
alternatively, annul Article 4 of the Decision insofar as it applies the recovery order to transactions concluded prior to publication in the OJEU of the final Decision to which this action refers; |
— |
alternatively, annul Article 1(1) and, alternatively, Article 4 of the Decision insofar as it refers to transactions carried out in Mexico and Turkey, and |
— |
order the Commission to pay the costs of these proceedings. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
The present action is directed against Commission Decision C(2010) 9566, of 12 January 2011, on the tax amortisation of financial goodwill for foreign shareholding acquisitions.
The pleas and main arguments are those already put forward in Case T-399/11, Banco de Santander and Santusa Holding v Commission.
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/40 |
Action brought on 29 July 2011 — Prosegur Compañía de Seguridad v Commission
(Case T-406/11)
2011/C 282/76
Language of the case: Spanish
Parties
Applicant: Prosegur Compañía de Seguridad, S.A. (Madrid, Spain) (represented by: J. Buendía Sierra, E. Abad Valdenebro and M. Muñoz de Juan, lawyers)
Defendant: European Commission
Form of order sought
— |
Admit and uphold the request for the taking of evidence; |
— |
admit and uphold the grounds for annulment set out in this application; |
— |
annul Article 1(1) of the Decision insofar as it declares that Article 12(5) of the Spanish Law on corporation tax comprises elements of State aid; |
— |
alternatively, annul Article 1(1) of the Decision insofar as it declares that Article 12(5) of the Spanish Law on corporation tax comprises elements of State aid when applied to shareholding acquisitions that involve acquisition of control; |
— |
alternatively, annul Article 4 of the Decision insofar as it applies the recovery order to transactions concluded prior to publication in the OJEU of the final Decision to which this action refers; |
— |
alternatively, annul Article 1(1) and, alternatively, Article 4 of the Decision insofar as it refers to transactions carried out in Argentina, Peru and Colombia; |
— |
order the Commission to pay the costs of these proceedings. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
The present action is directed against Commission Decision C(2010) 9566, of 12 January 2011, on the tax amortisation of financial goodwill for foreign shareholding acquisitions.
The pleas and main arguments are those already put forward in Case T-399/11, Banco de Santander and Santusa Holding v Commission.
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/41 |
Action brought on 26 July 2011 — SRF v Council
(Case T-407/11)
2011/C 282/77
Language of the case: English
Parties
Applicant: SRF Ltd (New Delhi, India) (represented by: F. Graafsma and J. Cornelis, lawyers)
Defendant: Council of the European Union
Form of order sought
— |
Annul the Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 469/2011 of 13 May 2011 amending Regulation (EC) No 1292/2007 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film originating in India (OJ 2009 L 129, p. 1, hereafter referred to as ‘the contested Regulation’); and |
— |
Order the Council to pay the costs. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
In support of the action, the applicant relies on one main plea in law, alleging that the contested Regulation infringes Article 9(6) of the Council Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009 of 30 November 2009 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community (1), in that:
1. |
Firstly, the said Article stipulates that the anti-dumping duty for exporters or producers which have made themselves known but were not included in the sample shall not exceed the weighted average dumping margin established for parties selected in the sample, whereby zero and de minimis margins shall be disregarded. By imposing an anti-dumping duty of 15,5 % on SRF, the contested Regulation violates this rule since the weighted average dumping margin for the parties selected in the sample, whose dumping margins are not zero or de minimis is lower than 15,5% ; and |
2. |
Secondly, by requiring an exporting producer to request an interim review pursuant to Article 11(3) of the Council Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009 for the application of Article 9(6), in a situation in which existing anti-dumping duty rates are adjusted following the expiry of concurrent countervailing measures, the contested Regulation inserts a condition into Article 9(6) that is absent in the express text of that provision, which amounts to the impermissible interpretation by the Council. |
(1) OJ 2009 L 343, p. 51 (consolidated text)
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/41 |
Action brought on 28 July 2011 — Maharishi Foundation v OHIM (TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION)
(Case T-412/11)
2011/C 282/78
Language of the case: English
Parties
Applicant: Maharishi Foundation Ltd (St. Helier, Jersey) (represented by: A. Meijboom, lawyer)
Defendant: Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs)
Form of order sought
— |
Annul the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) of 24 March 2011 in case R 1293/2010-2; |
— |
Order the defendant to pay the costs. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
Community trade mark concerned: The word mark ‘TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION’ for goods and services in classes 16, 41, 44 and 45 — Community trade mark application No 8246647
Decision of the Examiner: Rejected the application for a Community trade mark, for part of the goods and services
Decision of the Board of Appeal: Allowed the appeal and remitted the case to the Examination Division for further prosecution
Pleas in law: The applicant puts forward four pleas in law: (i) infringement of Articles 75 and 7(1)(a) of Council Regulation No 207/2009, as the Board of Appeal did not explicitly decided on Article 7(1)(a) of CTMR, but did, nevertheless, consider that the mark ‘TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION’ is generic; (ii) infringement of Article 7(1)(b) of Council Regulation No 207/2009, as the Board of Appeal incorrectly decided that the mark is devoid of any distinctive character; (iii) infringement of Article 7(1)(c) of Council Regulation No 207/2009, as the Board of Appeal incorrectly concluded that the mark consists exclusively of indications, which may serve, in trade, to designate characteristics of the goods or services, for which applicant filed the mark; and (iv) infringement of Article 7(3) of Council Regulation No 207/2009, as the Board of Appeal incorrectly decided that the mark has not become distinctive in relation to the goods or services, for which registration is requested in consequence of the use, which has been made of it.
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/42 |
Appeal brought on 3 August 2011 by Carlo De Nicola against the judgment of the Civil Service Tribunal of 28 June 2011 in Case F-49/10, De Nicola v EIB
(Case T-418/11 P)
2011/C 282/79
Language of the case: Italian
Parties
Appellant: Carlo De Nicola (Strassen, Luxembourg) (represented by L. Isloa, lawye)
Other party to the proceedings: European Investment Bank
Form of order sought by the appellant
The appellant claims that the Court should:
— |
Vary the judgment delivered on 28 June 2011 by the Civil Service Tribunal in Case F-49/10, concerning: |
— |
the annulment of the decision in the e-mail of 11 May 2010, in so far as the EIB refused to allow the administrative procedure to be completed and obstructed the attempted amicable settlement of the matter, rejecting by implication the claim for reimbursement of medical expenses in the sum of EUR 3 000,00; |
— |
order the EIB to reimburse the sum of EUR 3 000 incurred by the appellant for laser therapy treatment prescribed for him and carried out in Italy, together with interest, monetary inflation and the costs of the proceedings. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
In support of his claims, the appellant submits as follows:
A. |
The facts:
|
B. |
The application for annulment
|
C. |
The order as to costs
|
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/43 |
Action brought on 29 July 2011 — Ellinika Touristika Akinita v Commission
(Case T-419/11)
2011/C 282/80
Language of the case: Greek
Parties
Applicant: Ellinika Touristika Akinita A.E. (Athens, Greece) (represented by: N. Fragkakis, lawyer)
Defendant: European Commission
Form of order sought
The applicant claims that the General Court should:
— |
allow the application in its entirety; |
— |
annul and set aside the contested decision of the Commission addressed to the Hellenic Republic; |
— |
order that any sum that may have been ‘recovered’ directly or indirectly from the applicant in implementation of the contested decision be refunded with interest; |
— |
order the Commission to pay the applicant’s costs. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
By the present action, the applicant seeks the annulment of Commission Decision C(2011) 3504 final of 24 May 2011 relating to State aid to certain Greek casinos, No C 16/2010 (ex NN 22/2010, ex CP 318/2009), which was implemented by the Hellenic Republic.
The applicant puts forward the following grounds for annulment.
The first ground is derived from the incorrect interpretation and application of Article 107(1) TFEU and insufficient reasoning in breach of Article 296 TFEU. In particular, the measure under consideration: (i) does not ensure an economic advantage for the casino of Parnitha and that of Corfu through the transfer of State resources, (ii) is not selective in nature and (iii) is not capable of affecting trade between Member States and does not distort or threaten to distort competition.
The second ground is derived from the incorrect interpretation and application of Article 14(1)(a) of Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 of 22 March 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the EC Treaty (OJ 1999 L 83, p. 1). In particular: (i) the recovery of unlawful State aid can be sought only from the actual beneficiaries of the aid and (ii) there is no identity between the actual beneficiaries of the measure at issue (the casinos’ customers) and the persons to which the order for recovery is addressed (the casinos of Corfu, Parnitha and Thessaloniki), which were not charged for admission tickets.
The third ground is derived from the incorrect interpretation and application of Article 14(1)(b) of that regulation. Recovery of the aid at issue is contrary to: (i) the principle of the protection of legitimate expectations and (ii) the principle of proportionality.
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/44 |
Action brought on 6 August 2011 — Qualitest FZE v Council
(Case T-421/11)
2011/C 282/81
Language of the case: English
Parties
Applicant: Qualitest FZE (Dubai, United Arab Emirates) (represented by: M. Catrain González, lawyer, E. Wright and H. Zhu, Barristers)
Defendant: Council of the European Union
Form of order sought
— |
Annul Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 503/2011 of 23 May 2011 implementing Regulation (EU) No 961/2010 on restrictive measures against Iran (OJ 2011 L 136, p. 26) and Council Decision 2011/299/CFSP of 23 May 2011 amending Decision 2010/413/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Iran (OJ 2011 L 136, p. 65), so far as they apply to the applicant; and |
— |
Order the defendant to pay the costs. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
In support of the action, the applicant relies on three pleas in law.
1. |
First plea in law, alleging that the defendant has breached the obligation imposed upon it by Article 296 TFEU to state the reasons for including the applicant in the contested measures. |
2. |
Second plea in law, alleging that by failing to include any statement of reasons in the contested measures, the defendant has infringed the applicant’s right of defence, as:
|
3. |
Third plea in law, alleging that the defendant committed a manifest error of assessment in concluding that the applicant was involved in the procurement of components for Iranian nuclear programme and that the legal conditions for its inclusion have been fulfilled. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/44 |
Action brought on 4 August 2011 — Cementos Molins v Commission
(Case T-424/11)
2011/C 282/82
Language of the case: Spanish
Parties
Applicant: Cementos Molins, SA (Sant Vicenç del Horts, Spain) (represented by: C. Fernández Vicién, I. Moreno-Tapia Rivas and M. López Garrido, lawyers)
Defendant: European Commission
Form of order sought
The applicant claims that the General Court should:
— |
annul the contested decision; |
— |
order the European Commission to pay the costs. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
Pursuant to Article 263 TFEU, the applicant seeks the annulment of the decision of the European Commission of 12 January 2011 in Case No C 45/2007 (ex NN 51/2007, ex CP 9/2007) on the tax amortisation of financial goodwill for foreign shareholding acquisitions implemented by Spain. (1)
In support of its action, the applicant relies on three pleas in law.
1. |
First plea in law, alleging an infringement of Article 107 TFEU.
|
2. |
Second plea in law, alleging an infringement of the principle of the protection of legitimate expectations and the duty to state reasons in relation to the principle of the protection of legitimate expectations.
|
3. |
Third plea in law, alleging an infringement of the principle of proportionality in relation to the principle of the protection of legitimate expectations.
|
(1) Published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 21 May 2011 (OJ 2011 L 135, 1)
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/45 |
Action brought on 3 August 2011 — Hellenic Republic v Commission
(Case T-425/11)
2011/C 282/83
Language of the case: Greek
Parties
Applicant: Hellenic Republic (represented by: P. Milonopoulos and K. Boskovits)
Defendant: European Commission
Form of order sought
The applicant claims that the General Court should:
— |
annul the contested decision; |
— |
order the Commission to pay the costs. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
By the present action, the applicant seeks the annulment of Commission Decision C(2011) 3504 final of 24 May 2011 relating to State aid to certain Greek casinos, No C 16/2010 (ex NN 22/2010, ex CP 318/2009).
In support of the action, the applicant puts forward the following grounds for annulment.
1. |
First ground : Incorrect interpretation of Article 107(1) TFEU relating to the concept of State aid. More specifically, the applicant submits that the defendant mistakenly supposes that a lower charge for an admission ticket at certain casinos conferred an advantage upon them through the reduction of State income. Also, the supposed recipients of the aid are not in a comparable legal and factual position vis-à-vis the other casinos that operate in Greece, intra-Community trade is not affected and competition within the internal market is not distorted. |
2. |
Second ground : Inappropriate, deficient and contradictory reasoning as regards establishing State aid. The applicant observes in particular that the reasoning is contradictory since it accepts that a lower charge for a ticket can increase custom at the casinos in question while at the same time it contests the increase in State income by reason of the increase in custom. Also, the reasoning is deficient in relation to proof of the advantage and to establishing the effect on intra-Community trade and it is clearly erroneous as regards proof of the measure’s selective nature. |
3. |
Third ground : Recovery of the aid infringes Article 14 of Council Regulation (EC) No 659/99. (1) More specifically, the applicant submits that the aid is not sought from the actual beneficiaries, that is to say, the customers of the casinos that charge a lower ticket price. Also, recovery is contrary to the general principle of the protection of legitimate expectations, by reason of the previous case-law of the Greek Council of State and the defendant’s conduct, and to the general principle of proportionality since it imposes disproportionate and unjustified burdens on the supposed recipients of the aid and strengthens the competitive position of the casinos that charge the ticket price of EUR 12. |
4. |
Fourth ground : The defendant calculated the sums to be recovered incorrectly. The applicant maintains that the defendant is unable to calculate precisely the supposed advantage of the recipients of the aid and does not take into account the effect which the charging of a lower ticket price had or could have had on demand. |
(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 of 22 March 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the EC Treaty (OJ 1999 L 83, p. 1).
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/46 |
Action brought on 1 August 2011 — Maharishi Foundation v OHIM (MÉDITATION TRANSCENDANTALE)
(Case T-426/11)
2011/C 282/84
Language of the case: English
Parties
Applicant: Maharishi Foundation Ltd (St. Helier, Jersey) (represented by: A. Meijboom, lawyer)
Defendant: Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs)
Form of order sought
— |
Annul the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) of 6 April 2011 in case R 1294/2010-2; |
— |
Order the defendant to pay the costs |
Pleas in law and main arguments
Community trade mark concerned: The word mark ‘MÉDITATION TRANSCENDANTALE’ for goods and services in classes 16, 35, 41, 44 and 45 — Community trade mark application No 8246704
Decision of the Examiner: Rejected the application for a Community trade mark, for part of the goods and services
Decision of the Board of Appeal: Allowed the appeal and remitted the case to the Examination Division for further prosecution
Pleas in law: The applicant puts forward four pleas in law: (i) infringement of Articles 75 and 7(1)(a) of Council Regulation No 207/2009, as the Board of Appeal did not explicitly decided on Article 7(1)(a) of CTMR, but did, nevertheless, consider that the mark ‘MÉDITATION TRANSCENDANTALE’ is generic; (ii) infringement of Article 7(1)(b) of Council Regulation No 207/2009, as the Board of Appeal incorrectly decided that the mark is devoid of any distinctive character; (iii) infringement of Article 7(1)(c) of Council Regulation No 207/2009, as the Board of Appeal incorrectly concluded that the mark consists exclusively of indications, which may serve, in trade, to designate characteristics of the goods or services, for which applicant filed the mark; and (iv) infringement of Article 7(3) of Council Regulation No 207/2009, as the Board of Appeal incorrectly decided that the mark has not become distinctive in relation to the goods or services, for which registration is requested in consequence of the use, which has been made of it.
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/46 |
Action brought on 4 August 2011 — Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria v Commission
(Case T-429/11)
2011/C 282/85
Language of the case: Spanish
Parties
Applicant: Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, SA (Bilbao, Spain) (represented by: J. Ruiz Calzado, M. Núñez-Müller and J. Domínguez Pérez, lawyers)
Defendant: European Commission
Form of order sought
The applicant claims that the General Court should:
— |
annul Article 1(1) of the decision; |
— |
in the alternative, annul Article 1(4) and (5) of the decision; |
— |
in the further alternative, annul Article 4 of the decision, or amend its scope as appropriate; and |
— |
order the Commission to pay all the costs of the proceedings. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
This action has been brought against Article 1(1) of the decision of the European Commission of 12 January 2011 in Case No C 45/2007 (ex NN 51/2007, ex CP 9/2007) on the tax amortisation of financial goodwill for foreign shareholding acquisitions implemented by Spain (‘the decision’).
In support of its action, the applicant relies on seven pleas in law.
1. |
By its first plea in law, the applicant claims that the Commission infringed Articles 107 and 108 TFEU in finding, in the decision, that Article 12(5) of the consolidated version of the Spanish Corporate Tax Act (Ley del Impuesto sobre Sociedades español; ‘TRLIS’) constitutes State aid in so far as it provides for tax amortisation of goodwill for acquisitions of shareholdings in non-EU companies (extra-EU acquisitions). |
2. |
By its second plea in law, the applicant submits that the Commission committed an error of law and of procedure in finding that, for there to be State aid which is unlawful in its entirety, it is sufficient that the implementation of the scheme leads to situations which qualify as aid. |
3. |
By its third plea in law, the applicant claims that the principle of proportionality has been infringed in so far as it was found in the decision that: (i) the scheme constitutes unlawful aid in its entirety, including in relation to countries such as China and India and in other countries in which it has been shown or could be shown that there are explicit legal obstacles to cross-border business combinations, and that (ii) the scheme also constitutes State aid which is incompatible in its entirety in so far as it permits the deduction of financial goodwill in relation to acquisitions of majority shareholding in foreign companies outside of the EU. |
4. |
By its fourth plea in law, the applicant claims that the Commission infringed the principles of legitimate expectations and equal treatment in departing from the guidelines on direct taxation and from its administrative practice. |
5. |
By its fifth plea in law, the applicant claims that the Commission infringed the principle of good administration by having failed to examine the precise scope of the practical obstacles to company mergers outside of the EU (extra-EU mergers). |
6. |
By its sixth plea in law, the applicant submits that there were errors of law and errors of assessment in the determination of legitimate expectations in the decision. |
7. |
By its seventh plea in law, the applicant argues that insufficient grounds were given for the decision. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/47 |
Action brought on 4 August 2011 — Telefónica v Commission
(Case T-430/11)
2011/C 282/86
Language of the case: Spanish
Parties
Applicant: Telefónica, SA (Madrid, Spain) (represented by: J. Ruiz Calzado, M. Núñez-Müller and J. Domínguez Pérez, lawyers)
Defendant: European Commission
Form of order sought
The applicant claims that the General Court should:
— |
annul Article 1(1) of the decision; |
— |
in the alternative, annul Article 1(4) and (5) of the decision; |
— |
in the further alternative, annul Article 4 of the decision, or amend its scope as appropriate, and |
— |
order the Commission to pay all the costs arising from these proceedings. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
This action has been brought against the Commission's Decision of 12 January 2011 in Case No C 45/2007 (ex NN 51/2007, ex CP 9/2007), on the tax amortisation of financial goodwill for foreign shareholding acquisitions implemented by Spain.
The pleas in law and main arguments are those raised in Case T-429/11 BBVA v Commission.
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/47 |
Action brought on 4 August 2011 — Iberdrola v Commission
(Case T-431/11)
2011/C 282/87
Language of the case: Spanish
Parties
Applicant: Iberdrola, SA (Bilbao, Spain) (represented by: J. Ruiz Calzado, M. Núñez-Müller and J. Domínguez Pérez, lawyers)
Defendant: European Commission
Form of order sought
The applicant claims that the General Court should:
— |
annul Article 1(1) of the decision; |
— |
in the alternative, annul Article 1(4) and (5) of the decision; |
— |
in the further alternative, annul Article 4 of the decision, or amend its scope as appropriate, and |
— |
order the Commission to pay all the costs arising from these proceedings. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
This action has been brought against the Commission's Decision of 12 January 2011 in Case No C 45/2007 (ex NN 51/2007, ex CP 9/2007), on the tax amortisation of financial goodwill for foreign shareholding acquisitions implemented by Spain.
The pleas in law and main arguments are those raised in Case T-429/11 BBVA v Commission.
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/48 |
Action brought on 3 August 2011 — Europäisch-Iranische Handelsbank v Council
(Case T-434/11)
2011/C 282/88
Language of the case: English
Parties
Applicant: Europäisch-Iranische Handelsbank AG (Hamburg, Germany) (represented by: S. Gadhia and S. Ashley, Solicitors, H. Hohmann, lawyer, D. Wyatt, Queen's Counsel, and R. Blakeley, Barrister)
Defendant: Council of the European Union
Form of order sought
— |
Annul paragraph 1 of Table B of Annex I to Council Decision 2011/299/CFSP (1), in so far as it relates to the applicant; |
— |
Annul paragraph 1 of Table B of Annex I to Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 503/2011 (2), in so far as it relates to the applicant; |
— |
Declare Article 20(1)(b) of Council Decision 2010/413/CFSP (3) inapplicable to the applicant; |
— |
Declare Article 16(2) of Council Regulation (EU) No 961/2010 (4) inapplicable to the applicant; and |
— |
Order the defendant to pay the costs. |
Pleas in law and main arguments
In support of the action, the applicant relies on five pleas in law.
1. |
First plea in law, alleging that the defendant breached procedural requirements, as:
|
2. |
Second plea in law, alleging that the defendant committed a manifest error of assessment in determining whether or not the criteria for designation of the applicant under the contested measures were met, as the transactions in respect of which the applicant has apparently been designated were either authorised or in conformity with the rulings and guidance of the competent national authority (the German Central Bank). |
3. |
Third plea in law, alleging that the defendant has breached the applicant’s legitimate expectations that it would not be sanctioned by imposing restrictive measures based on conduct that was authorised by the competent national authority. Alternatively, to sanction the applicant in such circumstances breached the principles of legal certainty and the applicant’s right to good administration. |
4. |
Fourth plea in law, alleging that the designation of the applicant is in violation of its property rights and/or the right to conduct its business and is in manifest violation of the principle of proportionality. |
5. |
Fifth plea in law, alleging that if the power under which the defendant appears to have acted is mandatory, it is unlawful as being contrary to the principle of proportionality. |
(1) Council Decision 2011/299/CFSP of 23 May 2011 amending Decision 2010/413/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Iran (OJ 2011 L 136, p. 65)
(2) Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 503/2011 of 23 May 2011 implementing Regulation (EU) No 961/2010 on restrictive measures against Iran (OJ 2011 L 136, p. 26)
(3) Council Decision of 26 July 2010 concerning restrictive measures against Iran and repealing Common Position 2007/140/CFSP (OJ 2010 L 195, p. 39)
(4) Council Regulation (EU) No 961/2010 of 25 October 2010 on restrictive measures against Iran and repealing Regulation (EC) No 423/2007 (OJ 2010 L 281, p. 1)
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/48 |
Order of the General Court of 14 July 2011 — Apotheke DocMorris v OHIM (Representation of a green cross)
(Case T-173/10) (1)
2011/C 282/89
Language of the case: German
The President of the Third Chamber has ordered that the case be removed from the register.
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/49 |
Order of the General Court of 14 July 2011 — Apotheke DocMorris v OHIM (Representation of a green and white cross)
(Case T-196/10) (1)
2011/C 282/90
Language of the case: German
The President of the Third Chamber has ordered that the case be removed from the register.
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/49 |
Order of the General Court of 12 July 2011 — SNCF v OHIM — Infotrafic (infotrafic)
(Case T-491/10) (1)
2011/C 282/91
Language of the case: French
The President of the Seventh Chamber has ordered that the case be removed from the register.
European Union Civil Service Tribunal
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/50 |
Judgment of the Civil Service Tribunal (First Chamber) of 5 July 2011 — V v Parliament
(Case F-46/09) (1)
(Staff case - Contract staff - Conditions of engagement - Whether physically fit - Pre-recruitment medical examination. - Protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data - Medical confidentiality - Transfer of medical data between institutions - Right to respect for private life)
2011/C 282/92
Language of the case: French
Parties
Applicant: V (Brussels, Belgium) (represented by: É. Boigelot and S. Woog, lawyers)
Defendant: European Parliament (represented by: K. Zejdová and S. Seyr, agents)
Intervener in support of the applicant: European Data Protection Supervisor (represented by M. V. Pérez Asinari and H. Kranenborg, agents)
Re:
First, annulment of the medical opinion of physical unfitness of 18 December 2008 and, second, annulment of the decision to withdraw the offer of employment previously made to the applicant.
Operative part of the judgment
The Tribunal:
1. |
annuls the decision of 19 December 2008 whereby the European Parliament withdrew the offer of employment made to V; |
2. |
orders the European Parliament to pay V the sum of EUR 25 000; |
3. |
dismisses the action for the remainder; |
4. |
orders the European Parliament to pay the applicant’s costs and to bear its own costs; |
5. |
orders the European Data Protection Supervisor, as intervener, to bear its own costs. |
(1) OJ C 11 of 16.01.10, p. 40.
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/50 |
Judgment of the Civil Service Tribunal (First Chamber) of 20 July 2011 — Gozi v Commission
(Case F-116/10) (1)
(Staff case - Officials - Duty to provide assistance - Article 24 of the Staff Regulations - Reimbursement of lawyer’s fees incurred in legal proceedings before a national court)
2011/C 282/93
Language of the case: Italian
Parties
Applicant: Sandro Gozi (Rome, Italy) (represented by: G. Passalacqua, lawyer)
Defendant: European Commission (represented by: J. Currall and J. Baquero Cruz, agents)
Re:
Annulment of the decision rejecting the request for reimbursement of the costs incurred by the applicant in criminal proceedings before a court of a Member State.
Operative part of the judgment
The Tribunal:
1. |
dismisses the action; |
2. |
orders Mr Gozi to pay all the costs. |
(1) OJ C 55 of 19.02.11, p. 38.
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/50 |
Order of the Civil Service Tribunal (First Chamber) of 5 July 2011 — Coedo Suárez v Council
(Case F-73/10) (1)
(Staff case - Officials - Action for damages - Implicit decision rejecting a claim for compensation, followed by an explicit decision rejecting that claim - Lateness of prior complaint against the implicit rejection decision - Not admissible)
2011/C 282/94
Language of the case: French
Parties
Applicant: Angel Coedo Suárez (Brussels, Belgium) (represented by: S. Rodrigues, A. Blot and C. Bernard-Glanz, lawyers)
Defendant: Council of the European Union (represented by: K. Zieleśkiewicz and M. Bauer, agents)
Re:
Annulment of the defendant’s decision rejecting the applicant’s claim for compensation and his claim for compensation for material and non-material damage suffered.
Operative part of the order
The Tribunal:
1. |
dismisses the action as inadmissible; |
2. |
orders the Council of the European Union to pay all the costs. |
(1) OJ C 301 of 6.11.10. p. 63
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/51 |
Order of the Civil Service Tribunal (First Chamber) of 5 July 2011 — Alari v Parliament
(Case F-38/11) (1)
(Staff case - Officials - Promotion - 2009 promotion exercise - Transfer from one institution to another during promotion exercise in which the official would have been promoted in his institution of origin - Institution with competence to decide on promotion of the transferred official)
2011/C 282/95
Language of the case: French
Parties
Applicant: Gianluigi Alari (Bertrange, Luxembourg) (represented by: S. Orlandi, A. Coolen, J. N. Louis and É. Marchal, lawyers)
Defendant: European Parliament (represented by: S. Alves and M. Ecker, agents)
Re:
Annulment of the decision not to promote the applicant in the 2009 promotion exercise.
Operative part of the order
The Tribunal:
1. |
dismisses the action as manifestly lacking any foundation in law; |
2. |
orders the European Parliament to pay the applicant’s costs and to bear its own costs. |
(1) OJ C 179 of 18.06.11, p. 22
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/51 |
Action brought on 19 July 2011 — ZZ v Commission
(Case F-41/11)
2011/C 282/96
Language of the case: French
Parties
Applicant: ZZ (represented by: D. Abreu Caldas, S. Orlandi, A. Coolen, J.-N. Louis and E. Marchal, lawyers)
Defendant: European Commission
Subject-matter and description of the proceedings
Annulment of the decision of the Director-General of OLAF to reject the applicant’s request for the extension of the applicant’s contract as a member of the temporary staff within the meaning of Article 2(c) of the Conditions of Employment.
Form of order sought by the applicant
— |
Annul the decision of the Director-General of OLAF of 11 February 2011 to reject the applicant’s request for the extension of the applicant’s contract as a member of the temporary staff within the meaning of Article 2(c) of the Conditions of Employment; |
— |
order the Commission to pay the costs. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/51 |
Action brought on 12 July 2011 — ZZ v Commission
(Case F-66/11)
2011/C 282/97
Language of the case: French
Parties
Applicant: ZZ (represented by: S. Rodrigues, A. Blot and C. Bernard-Glanz, lawyers)
Defendant: European Commission
Subject-matter and description of the proceedings
Annulment of the decision adopted by the chairman of the selection board for Competition EPSO/AST/111/10 (AST 1) not to admit the applicant to the assessment tests.
Form of order sought by the applicant
— |
As a main claim:
|
— |
in the alternative, in the event that the main claim is not upheld, quod non, order the defendant to pay, by way of material damages, an amount fixed provisionally and ex aequo et bono at EUR 20 000, together with interest for late payment at the statutory rate from the date of the judgment to be delivered; |
— |
in any event, order the defendant to pay, by way of non-material damages, an amount fixed provisionally and ex aequo et bono at EUR 20 000, together with interest for late payment at the statutory rate from the date of the judgment to be delivered; |
— |
order the Commission to pay the costs. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/52 |
Action brought on 15 July 2011 — ZZ v Commission
(Case F-68/11)
2011/C 282/98
Language of the case: English
Parties
Applicant: ZZ (represented by: S. Rodrigues, A. Blot and C. Bernard-Glanz, lawyers)
Defendant: European Commission
Subject-matter and description of the proceedings
The annulment of the decision of the Commission terminating the applicant's contract of employment of indefinite duration.
Form of order sought
The applicant claims that the European Union Civil Service Tribunal should:
— |
Annul the decision of the Authority Authorised to Conclude Contracts of the Commission (hereinafter, the AACC) of 30 September 2010, terminating her contract of employment of indefinite duration; |
— |
together with, and so far as necessary: annul the decision of the AACC of 14 April 2011, rejecting the complaint lodged on 23 December 2010 pursuant to Article 90(2) of the Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union; |
— |
order the Commission to pay the costs. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/52 |
Action brought on 20 July 2011 — ZZ v Court of Auditors
(Case F-69/11)
2011/C 282/99
Language of the case: French
Parties
Applicant: ZZ (represented by: L. Levi, lawyer)
Defendant: European Court of Auditors
Subject-matter and description of the proceedings
Application for annulment of the decision of the Court of Auditors not to appoint the applicant to the post of Director of the Directorate for Human Resources and to appoint another candidate to that post
Form of orders sought
— |
Annulment of the decision of the Court of Auditors to appoint another person to the to the post of Director of the Directorate for Human Resources and not to appoint the applicant to that post; |
— |
in so far as is necessary, annul the decision rejecting the complaint; |
— |
order the Court of Auditors to pay compensation for the material damage suffered consisting in the loss of financial rights connected to the contested decisions (including career and pension rights) and, therefore, the payment of those rights with effect from 1 January 2001; |
— |
order that the Court of Auditors pay symbolic damages of one euro as compensation for the non-material damage; |
— |
order the Court of Auditors to pay the costs. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/52 |
Action brought on 21 July 2011 — ZZ v Commission
(Case F-70/11)
2011/C 282/100
Language of the case: French
Parties
Applicant: ZZ (represented by: F. Frabetti, lawyer)
Defendant: European Commission
Subject-matter and description of the proceedings
Annulment of the applicant’s appraisal report for the period 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2008.
Form of order sought by the applicant
— |
Annul the applicant’s appraisal report for 2008, that is to say, the part of the report drawn up by EUROSTAT for that period; |
— |
order the European Commission to pay the costs. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/53 |
Action brought on 25 July 2011 — ZZ v Commission
(Case F-73/11)
2011/C 282/101
Language of the case: English
Parties
Applicant: ZZ (represented by: S. Rodrigues, C. Bernard-Glanz and A. Blot, lawyers)
Defendant: European Commission
Subject-matter and description of the proceedings
The annulment of the decision not to admit the applicant to the assessment centre stage of the open competition EPSO/AD/181/10.
Form of order sought
The applicant claims that the European Union Civil Service Tribunal should:
— |
Annul the decision of the European Personnel Selection Office (hereinafter, EPSO) of 20 August 2010 and 15 September 2010, informing him that he was not admitted to the assessment centre stage of the open competition EPSO/AD/181/10 (hereinafter, the contested decision); |
— |
together with, and so far as necessary, annul the EPSO decision of 15 April 2011, rejecting his complaint of 10 November 2010 against the aforementioned decision (hereinafter, the rejection decision); |
— |
consequently, order his reintegration into the selection process, if necessary by the implementation of a new round of tests; |
— |
order the Commission to pay the costs. |
24.9.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 282/53 |
Order of the Civil Service Tribunal of 19 July 2011 — Putterie v Commission
(Case F-31/07 RENV) (1)
2011/C 282/102
Language of the case: French
The President of the First Chamber has ordered that the case be removed from the register, following amicable settlement.
(1) OJ C 117, 26.5.2007, p. 38.