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Document 62018TJ0223
Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 2 June 2021.
Casa Regina Apostolorum della Pia Società delle Figlie di San Paolo v European Commission.
State aid – Healthcare services – Direct grants to public hospitals in the Lazio Region (Italy) – Decision finding that there is no State aid – Action for annulment – Regulatory act not entailing implementing measures – Direct concern – Admissibility – Obligation to state reasons – Concept of economic activity.
Case T-223/18.
Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 2 June 2021.
Casa Regina Apostolorum della Pia Società delle Figlie di San Paolo v European Commission.
State aid – Healthcare services – Direct grants to public hospitals in the Lazio Region (Italy) – Decision finding that there is no State aid – Action for annulment – Regulatory act not entailing implementing measures – Direct concern – Admissibility – Obligation to state reasons – Concept of economic activity.
Case T-223/18.
Court reports – general
ECLI identifier: ECLI:EU:T:2021:315
Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 2 June 2021 –
Casa Regina Apostolorum della Pia Società delle Figlie di San Paolo v Commission
(Case T‑223/18)
(State aid – Healthcare services – Direct grants to public hospitals in the Lazio Region (Italy) – Decision finding that there is no State aid – Action for annulment – Regulatory act not entailing implementing measures – Direct concern – Admissibility – Obligation to state reasons – Concept of economic activity)
1. |
Judicial proceedings – Representation of the parties – Authority to act ad litem – Required degree of precision (Statute of the Court of Justice, Art. 19; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 51) (see paras 54-61) |
2. |
Judicial proceedings – Representation of the parties – Authority to act ad litem – Not required for agents of the EU institutions (Statute of the Court of Justice, Art. 19; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 51) (see paras 64-66) |
3. |
Action for annulment – Natural or legal persons – Concept of ‘regulatory act’ within the meaning of the fourth paragraph of Article 263 TFEU – Any measure of general application other than legislative acts (Art. 263, fourth para., TFEU) (see paras 73-77) |
4. |
Action for annulment – Natural or legal persons – Regulatory acts – Acts not entailing implementing measures and concerning the applicant directly – Concept of implementing measures – Criteria – Decision of the Commission finding no State aid – Act not entailing implementing measures in respect of competitors of beneficiaries of the national measure which has been found not to constitute state aid (Art. 263, fourth para., TFEU) (see paras 78-88) |
5. |
Action for annulment – Natural or legal persons – Regulatory acts – Acts not entailing implementing measures and concerning the applicant directly – Concept of direct concern – Criteria – Decision of the Commission finding no State aid – Action brought by an entity who is a competitor of the recipient undertaking – Competing entity claiming its right not to be subject to distorted competition is directly affected – Admissibility (Art. 263, fourth para., TFEU) (see paras 89-101) |
6. |
Action for annulment – Jurisdiction of the EU judicature – Interpretation of the reasoning of an administrative measure – Limits – EU judicature substituting its own reasoning for that of the person adopting the act – Not permissible (Arts 263 and 264 TFEU) (see paras 103-108) |
7. |
Acts of the institutions – Statement of reasons – Obligation – Scope – Commission decision on State aid – Decision finding no State aid granted challenged by a complainant – Statement of the reasons which led the Commission to find that there was no evidence of State aid – Adequate statement of reasons (Arts 107(1) and 296 TFEU) (see paras 120-142) |
8. |
Competition – EU rules – Undertaking – Definition – Exercise of an economic activity – Meaning – Health care provided by public hospitals as part of the national health service – Not included – Conditions – Care activities carried out on a non-profit basis and under the control of the State – Care activities carried out within the framework of a scheme implementing the principles of solidarity and universality – Assessment – National health service based on the principles of solidarity and universality notwithstanding the application of the principles of competition and free patient choice (Art. 107(1) TFEU) (see paras 147-173) |
9. |
Competition – EU rules – Undertaking – Definition – Exercise of an economic activity – Meaning – Health care provided by public hospitals as part of a national health service – Not included – Public hospitals also undertaking private practice activities not covered by the national health service – Irrelevant – Condition – Compliance with the requirement to keep separate accounts (Art. 107(1) TFEU) (see paras 178-184) |
Re:
Application under Article 263 TFEU seeking annulment of Commission Decision C(2017) 7973 final of 4 December 2017 on State aid SA.39913 (2017/NN) – Italy – Alleged compensation of public hospitals in the Lazio Region.
Operative part
The Court:
1. |
Dismisses the action; |
2. |
Orders Casa Regina Apostolorum della Pia Società delle Figlie di San Paolo to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by the European Commission. |