Request for a preliminary ruling from the Verwaltungsgericht Berlin (Germany) lodged on 16 December 2014 — Mrs Sandra Bitter, lawyer, as insolvency administrator of Ziegelwerk Höxter GmbH v Federal Republic of Germany

(Case C-580/14)

(2015/C 096/03)

Language of the case: German

Referring court

Verwaltungsgericht Berlin

Parties to the main proceedings

Applicant: Mrs Sandra Bitter, lawyer, as insolvency administrator of Ziegelwerk Höxter GmbH

Defendant: Federal Republic of Germany

Question referred

Does the second sentence of Article 16(3) [of Directive 2003/87/EC] (1), according to which the excess emissions penalty shall be EUR 100 for each tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent emitted for which the operator or aircraft operator has not surrendered allowances, infringe the principle of proportionality?

(1)  Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC (OJ 2003 L 275, p. 32).