Judgment of the Court of First Instance (Second Chamber) of 12 December 2006 – Asociación de Estaciones de Servicio de Madrid and Federación Catalana de Estaciones de Servicio v Commission
(Case T-146/03)
State aid – Spanish law providing for measures in favour of the agricultural sector following an increase in fuel prices – Formal examination procedure under Article 88(2) EC – Decision finding that certain measures did not constitute aid – Action for annulment – Admissibility – Standing to bring proceedings – Duty to state reasons
1. Actions for annulment – Natural or legal persons – Measures of direct and individual concern to them (Arts 88(2) EC and 230, fourth para., EC) (see paras 40-47, 49, 51, 54-56)
2. Acts of the Community institutions – Statement of reasons – Obligation – Scope (Arts 87(1) EC and 253 EC) (see paras 78-79, 92)
Re:
APPLICATION for partial annulment of Commission Decision 2003/293/EC of 11 December 2002 on the measures implemented by Spain in the agricultural sector following the increase in fuel prices (OJ 2003 L 111, p. 24) |
Operative part
The Court:
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Declares that Article 1 of Commission Decision 2003/293/EC of 11 December 2002 on the measures implemented by Spain in the agricultural sector following the increase in fuel prices is annulled in so far that it finds that the measures to support agricultural cooperatives provided for by Royal Decree Law 10/2000 de medidas urgentes de apoyo a los sectores agrario, pesquero y del transporte (Decree Law on emergency support for agriculture, fisheries and transport) do not constitute aid within the meaning of Article 87(1) EC; |
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Orders the Commission to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by the applicants; |
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Orders the Kingdom of Spain to bear its own costs. |