Order of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 14 May 2013 — Régie Networks and NRJ Global v Commission

(Case T‑273/11)

Action for annulment — State aid — State aid scheme implemented by France in favour of radio broadcasting — Decision not to raise objections — Lack of interest in bringing proceedings — Manifest inadmissibility

1.                     Actions for annulment — Natural or legal persons — Interest in bringing proceedings — Need for an actual and current interest — Action against a Commission decision declaring State aid compatible with the internal market under certain conditions — Actions for restitution of taxes unduly levied brought earlier at the national level — Effects of the Commission decision — No ex post facto regularisation of measures of national law concerning the grant of the aid — Decision not unfavourable to the applicant — No legal interest in bringing proceedings — Inadmissibility (Arts 108(3) TFEU and 263, fourth para., TFEU) (see paras 27-30, 37)

2.                     Union law — Direct effect — National taxes incompatible with EU law — Repayment — Procedures — Application of national law — Time-limits — Lawfulness — Conditions — Compliance with the principle of effectiveness of EU law — Compliance with the principle that conditions for repayment action be comparable with those for similar domestic claims (see paras 32‑36)

Re:

APPLICATION for annulment of Commission Decision C(2010) 6483 final of 29 September 2010 concerning State aid scheme No C 4/2009 (ex N 679/97) implemented by the [French Republic] to promote radio broadcasting and declaring that scheme compatible with the internal market, subject to compliance with certain conditions.

Operative part

1. The action is dismissed.

2. Régie Networks and NRJ Global are ordered to pay the costs.