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Document 62015TJ0364

    Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 15 September 2021.
    ADR Center Srl v European Commission.
    Financial aid – General Programme ‘Fundamental Rights and Justice’ for the period 2007-2013 – Specific Programme ‘Civil Justice’ – Action for annulment – Enforceable decision – Grant agreements – Recovery of part of the financial contribution paid – Action for a declaratory judgment – Arbitration clause – Force majeure – Eligible costs – Proportionality – Obligation to state reasons.
    Case T-364/15.

    Court reports – general

    ECLI identifier: ECLI:EU:T:2021:593

     Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 15 September 2021 –
    ADR Center v Commission

    (Case T‑364/15)

    (Financial aid – General Programme ‘Fundamental Rights and Justice’ for the period 2007-2013 – Specific Programme ‘Civil Justice’ – Action for annulment – Enforceable decision – Grant agreements – Recovery of part of the financial contribution paid – Action for a declaratory judgment – Arbitration clause – Force majeure – Eligible costs – Proportionality – Obligation to state reasons)

    1. 

    Action for annulment – Jurisdiction of the EU judicature – Scope – Judicial review of an enforceable decision of the Commission for the recovery of a claim – Jurisdiction to examine both the pleas challenging the legality of such a decision and those relating to the breach of contractual obligations giving rise to the adoption of such a decision – Observance of the right to effective judicial protection

    (Arts 263 and 272 TFEU; Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 47; European Parliament and Council Regulation No 966/2012, Art. 79(2))

    (see paras 61, 106)

    2. 

    EU budget – EU financial assistance – Obligation on the beneficiary to comply with the conditions for grant of the assistance – Financing covering only expenses actually incurred – Demonstration that the costs have actually been incurred – None – Ineligible costs

    (Art. 317 TFEU)

    (see paras 71-73, 75)

    3. 

    EU budget – EU financial assistance – Obligation on the beneficiary to comply with the conditions for grant of the assistance – Financing covering only expenses actually incurred – Demonstration that the costs have actually been incurred – Allocation of the burden of proof

    (Art. 317 TFEU)

    (see paras 74, 82)

    4. 

    Action for annulment – Pleas in law – Misuse of powers – Concept

    (Art. 263 TFEU)

    (see para. 119)

    5. 

    EU law – Principles – Proportionality – Criteria for assessment

    (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 966/2012)

    (see para. 119)

    6. 

    Acts of the institutions – Statement of reasons – Obligation – Scope

    (Art. 296 TFEU)

    (see paras 123, 124)

    Re:

    Application seeking, first, annulment, under Article 263 TFEU, of Commission Decision C(2015) 3117 final of 4 May 2015 relating to the recovery of part of the financial contribution paid to the applicant pursuant to two grant agreements concluded under the Specific Programme ‘Civil Justice’ and, second, a declaration that the costs which the Commission declared ineligible in that decision are eligible.

    Operative part

    The Court:

    1. 

    Dismisses the action;

    2. 

    Orders ADR Center Srl to pay the costs in the main proceedings and in the proceedings for interim measures.

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