Judgment of the Court (First Chamber) of 4 September 2014 — Kingdom of Spain v European Commission

(Case C-192/13 P) (1)

((Appeal - Cohesion fund - Reduction of the financial assistance - Adoption of the decision by the European Commission - Existence of a time-limit - Failure to comply with the time-limit - Consequences))

(2014/C 395/16)

Language of the case: Spanish

Parties

Appellant: Kingdom of Spain (represented by: A. Rubio González, acting as Agent)

Other party to the proceedings: European Commission (represented by: S. Pardo Quintillán and D. Recchia, acting as Agents)

Operative part of the judgment

The Court:

1)	Sets aside the judgment of the General Court of the European Union in Spain v Commission (T-235/11, EU:T:2013:49);

Annuls Commission Decision C(2011) 1023 final of 18 February 2011 reducing the assistance granted from the Cohesion Fund to the stages of projects entitled ‘Supply and assembly of track materials on the high-speed line Madrid-Zaragoza-Barcelona-French border. Section Madrid-Lleida’ (CCI 1999.ES.16.C.PT.001), ‘High-speed railway line Madrid-Barcelona. Section Lleida Martorell (Platform, 1st phase)’ (CCI 2000.ES.16.C.PT.001), ‘High-speed line Madrid-Zaragoza-Barcelona-French border. Railway access to the new station at Zaragoza’ (CCI 2000.ES.16.C.PT.003), ‘High-speed line Madrid-Barcelona-French border. Section Lleida-Martorell. Subsection X-A (Olérdola-Avinyonet del Penedés)’ (CCI 2001.ES.16.C.PT.007), ‘New high-speed railway access to Levante. Subsection La Gineta-Albacete (Platform)’ (CCI 2004.ES.16.C.PT.014);

3)	Orders the European Commission to pay the costs of the Kingdom of Spain and to bear its own costs of both the proceedings at first instance and of the present appeal proceedings.

(1) OJ C 178, 22.6.2013.