Case C‑471/22

Agentsia ‘Patna infrastruktura’

v

Rakovoditel na Upravlyavashtia organ na Operativna programa ‘Transport’ 2007-2013 i direktor na direktsia ‘Koordinatsia na programi i proekti’ v Ministerstvo na transporta (RUO)

(Request for a preliminary ruling
from the Administrativen sad Sofia-grad)

Judgment of the Court (Third Chamber) of 30 January 2024

(Reference for a preliminary ruling – European Union Cohesion Funds – Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 – Articles 99 and 101 – Financial corrections in connection with detected irregularities – Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 – Article 104 – Financial corrections made by the Commission – Commission decision annulling in part a contribution from that fund – Validity – Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union – Article 41 – Right to good administration – Article 47, first subparagraph – Right to an effective remedy before a tribunal)

1. Own resources of the European Union – Regulation on protection of the financial interests of the Union – Irregularity – Financial corrections by Member States in connection with irregularities detected – Commission decision cancelling in part an EU Cohesion Fund contribution to an operational programme – Validity in the light of EU law

   (Art. 296(2) TFEU; Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2021/1060, Art. 104; European Parliament and Council Directives 2004/17 and 2004/18)

   (see paragraphs 24, 27-31, operative part 1)

2. Own resources of the European Union – Regulation on protection of the financial interests of the Union – Irregularity – Financial corrections by Member States in connection with irregularities detected – Finding of irregularity made by the Commission and application of a financial correction – Obligations of the national competent authorities – Recovery of sums unduly received – Procedures – Autonomous administrative procedure with the beneficiary of the funds – Observance of the general principles of EU law

   (Council Regulation No 1083/2006, recital 65 and Arts 2(7), 60(a), 98, 99 and 101)

   (see paragraphs 33-36, 38-40, 44, operative part 2)

3. Fundamental rights – Charter of Fundamental Rights – Right to good administration – Right not enforceable against Member States – General principle of EU law enforceable against Member States implementing EU law – Applicability of a financial correction procedure conducted by the national authorities under EU law

   (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41; Council Regulation No 1083/2006, Art. 98(2))

   (see paragraphs 41-43)

4. EU law – Principles – Right to effective judicial protection – Scope – Right to be heard and principle of equality of arms – Included – Implication – Final Commission decision cancelling, on account of an irregularity, all or part of a contribution from an EU fund – National court hearing an action against the national act imposing, in implementation of that decision, a financial correction on the beneficiary of that fund – Court in question bound by that decision – Whether permissible – Conditions

   (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 47)

   (see paragraphs 46-51, operative part 3)

See the text of the decision.