Appeal brought on 28 February 2025 by Agropalma Holdings Ltda; Rio Verde Representações e Administração Ltda, antigamente Agripar Administração e Participações; Alfastar Participações Ltda; Corumbal Corretora de Seguros Ltda; Corumbal Participações e Administração Ltda and Alfa Participações, Administração e Representações Ltda against the judgment delivered by the General Court (Fifth Chamber) on 18 December 2024 in Case T-716/22, Administradora Fortaleza and Others v Commission (Zona Franca da Madeira)

(Case C-173/25 P)

(C/2025/2185)

Language of the case: Portuguese

Parties

Appellants:

Agropalma Holdings Ltda,

Rio Verde Representações e Administração Ltda, antigamente Agripar Administração e Participações

Alfastar Participações Ltda,

Corumbal Corretora de Seguros Ltda,

Corumbal Participações e Administração Ltda,

Alfa Participações, Administração e Representações Ltda

(represented by: A. I. Ferreira Correia and R. da Palma Borges, advogados)

Other parties to the proceedings:

Administradora Fortaleza Ltda,

Deltapar Administração Participações e Representações Ltda,

Transamérica Holdings Ltda,

Metropar Administração e Participações Ltda

European Commission

Form of order sought

The appellants claim that the Court should:

Grounds of appeal and main arguments

In support of their appeal, the appellants put forward four grounds of appeal.

First ground of appeal, alleging an error of law in relation to the plea alleging failure to comply with the obligation to state reasons in breach of Article 296 TFEU;

Second ground of appeal, alleging an error of law in relation to the classification as ‘State aid’ of the income tax reduction applicable to holding companies under Regime III;

Third ground of appeal, alleging an error of law and distortion of the evidence in the assessment of the plea concerning an error of assessment of the facts and an error of law committed by the Commission in finding that the benefits granted to holding companies are unlawful within the meaning of Article 108(3) TFEU and incompatible with the internal market within the meaning of Article 107(3) TFEU;

Fourth ground of appeal, alleging errors of law concerning the plea of breach of the EU law general principles of legal certainty, protection of legitimate expectations and the legality.

(1)  Commission Decision (EU) 2022/1414 of 4 December 2020 on aid scheme SA.21259 (2018/C) (ex 2018/NN) implemented by Portugal for Zona Franca da Madeira (ZFM) – Regime III (OJ 2022 L 217, p. 49-87.)