Case C‑251/21

‘Piltenes meži’ SIA

v

Lauku atbalsta dienests

(Request for a preliminary ruling from the Augstākā tiesa (Senāts))

Judgment of the Court (Seventh Chamber) of 28 April 2022

(Reference for a preliminary ruling – European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) – Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 – Support for rural development by the EAFRD – Article 30 – Natura 2000 payments – Scope – Application for aid in respect of a micro-reserve created in a forest that is not part of the Natura 2000 network, with the purpose of protecting a species of wild bird – Regulation (EU) No 702/2014 – Block exemption for certain types of aid to the agriculture and forestry sectors – Application to aid co-financed by means of EU resources – No application to undertakings in difficulty)

1. Agriculture – Common agricultural policy – EAFRD financing – Support for rural development – Natura 2000 payments – Scope

   (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1305/2013, Art. 30; European Parliament and Council Directive 2009/147; Council Directive 92/43, Art. 10)

   (see paragraphs 46, 47, 50, 51, 58, 61-69, operative part 1)

2. Agriculture – Common agricultural policy – EAFRD financing – Support for rural development – Aid applied for in respect of a micro-reserve created in a forest in pursuance of EU objectives related to the conservation of wild birds – Aid not intended to be provided by the European Union but through Member States, under programmes which they submit and which are approved by the Commission

   (Arts 107, 108 and 109 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1305/2013, recital 56 and Arts 1(1), 6(1) to (3), 30 and 81(1) and (2); Commission Regulation No 702/2014, Art. 2(14))

   (see paragraphs 71-76)

3. Aid granted by a Member State – Prohibition – Derogations – Aid categories, set out in legislation, which can be regarded as compatible with the common market – Regulation No 702/2014 – Scope – Aid applied for in respect of a micro-reserve created in a forest in pursuance of EU objectives related to the conservation of wild birds

   (Arts 107 and 108 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1305/2013, Art. 30; Commission Regulation No 702/2014, recital 16 and Arts 1(6) and 2(14))

   (see paragraphs 78,79, 81-86, 88-96, operative part 2)

See the text of the decision.