Judgment of the General Court of 13 May 2020 — Talanton v Commission

(Case T-195/18) (1)

(Arbitration clause - Seventh framework programme for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007-2013) - Perform Contract - Eligible costs - Repayment in part of the sums paid - Abuse of contractual rights - Principle of good faith - Legitimate expectations - Burden of proof - Counterclaim)

(2020/C 215/33)

Language of the case: Greek

Parties

Applicant: Talanton Anonymi Emporiki — Symvouleftiki-Ekpaideftiki Etaireia Dianomon, Parochis Ypiresion Marketing kai Dioikisis Epicheiriseon (Palaio Faliro, Greece) (represented by: K. Damis and M. Angelopoulos, lawyers)

Defendant: European Commission (represented by: R. Lyal and A. Kyratsou, acting Agents and G. Gerapetritis, lawyer)

Re:

First, application based on Article 272 TFEU seeking a declaration that the expenditure that the applicant declared in the context of grant agreement No 215952 relating to the implementation of the ‘A sophisticated multi-parametric system for the continuous-effective assessment and monitoring of motor status in parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases’ project, concluded in the context of the Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007-2013), was eligible and that the request, by the Commission, for recovery of the sum of EUR 481 835,56 and EUR 29 694,10, pursuant to that grant agreement, amounted to a breach of the Commission’s contractual obligations, as well as, second, a counterclaim seeking an order requiring the applicant to pay the sum of EUR 481 835,56, together with interest.

Operative part of the judgment

The Court:

1.	Dismisses the action;

2.

Orders Talanton Anonymi Emporiki — Symvouleftiki-Ekpaideftiki Etaireia Dianomon, Parochis Ypiresion Marketing kai Dioikisis Epicheiriseon to reimburse to the European Commission non-eligible costs in the sum of EUR 481 835,56, together with late payment interest at the rate of 3,5 % from 26 February 2018;

3.

Orders Talanton Anonymi Emporiki — Symvouleftiki-Ekpaideftiki Etaireia Dianomon, Parochis Ypiresion Marketing kai Dioikisis Epicheiriseon to pay to the European Commission, by way of compensation, a lump sum of EUR 29 694,10, together with late payment interest at the rate of 3,5 % from 26 February 2018;

4.	Orders Talanton Anonymi Emporiki — Symvouleftiki-Ekpaideftiki Etaireia Dianomon, Parochis Ypiresion Marketing kai Dioikisis Epicheiriseon to pay the costs.

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(1)  OJ C 211, 18.6.2018.