Action brought on 28 July 2016 — Acquafarm v Commission

(Case T-458/16)

(2016/C 419/63)

Language of the case: Spanish

Parties

Applicant: Acquafarm, SL (Huelva, Spain) (represented by: A. Pérez Moreno, lawyer)

Defendant: European Commission

Form of order sought

The applicant requests that the General Court award it compensation for the damage caused by the lack of coordination of administrative action relating to the aquaculture facility, located in Gibraleón (Huelva), which resulted in serious injury to the legitimate expectations placed in that entity, arising as a result of the grant of aid for the implementation of an aquaculture project, which, in parallel, the European Union makes unviable as a result of a ban on the export of the species for the breeding of which the facilities are being built.

Pleas in law and main arguments

The applicant in the present proceedings is a company dedicated to research, innovation and industrial development in the field of aquaculture; it was created in 2004 for the implementation of an aquaculture project for the breeding and marketing of the Cherax Cuadricarinatus shellfish (Australian freshwater lobster). That project was awarded the corresponding aid from the European Union in accordance with the provisions set out in Commission Regulation (EC) No 498/2007 of 26 March 2007 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1198/2006 on the European Fisheries Fund (OJ 2007 L 120, p. 1).

In support of its action, the applicant relies on Article 340 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and, for consideration thereof, on Spanish law on administrative responsibility, as stated in Article 106 of the Constitution and Articles 139 and following of Ley 30/92, de 26 de noviembre, de Régimen Jurídico de las Administraciones Públicas y del Procedimiento Administrativo Común (Law 30/92 of 26 November on the legal rules governing public authorities and the common administrative procedure).

In that regard, the applicant states that: