Language of document :

Appeal brought on 23 February 2019 by the European Commission against the judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber, Extended Composition) delivered on 13 December 2018 in Joined Cases T-339/16, T-352/16 and T-391/16 Ville de Paris, Ville de Bruxelles and Ayuntamiento de Madrid v European Commission

(Case C-179/19 P)

Languages of the case: Spanish and French

Parties

Appellant: European Commission (represented by: J.F. Brakeland, Agent)

Other parties to the proceedings: Ville de Paris, Ville de Bruxelles, Ayuntamiento de Madrid

Form of order sought

The appellant claims that the Court should:

set aside the judgment of the General Court of 13 December 2018, of which the Commission was notified on the same date, in Joined Cases T-339/16, T-352/16 and T-391/16 Ville de Paris, Ville de Bruxelles and Ayuntamiento de Madrid v European Commission, dismiss the action at first instance and order the applicants to pay the costs;

or, in the alternative,

set aside the judgment and refer the case back to the General Court for reconsideration; reserve the costs of the proceedings at first instance and on appeal.

Pleas in law and main arguments

The appeal is founded on a single ground of appeal. The Commission submits that, in paragraphs 121 to 151 of its judgment, the General Court erred in law in concluding that Regulation 2016/646 1 modifies an essential element of Regulation 715/2007. 2 That error is due, first, to the General Court’s incorrect interpretation of the concept of modification, illustrated by its recourse to the concept of ‘de facto’ modification, and, secondly, to an incorrect interpretation of the scope of Regulation 2016/646. In doing so, the judgment endangers the inter-institutional balance of the European Union.

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1 Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/646 of 20 April 2016 amending Regulation (EC) No 692/2008 as regards emissions from light passenger and commercial vehicles (Euro 6) (OJ 2016 L 109, p. 1)

2 Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2007 on type approval of motor vehicles with respect to emissions from light passenger and commercial vehicles (Euro 5 and Euro 6) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information (OJ L 2007 L 171, p. 1)