Action brought on 19 February 2014 – Finland v Commission

(Case T-124/14)

Language of the case: Finnish

Parties

Applicant: Republic of Finland (represented by: J. Heliskoski and S. Hartikainen)

Defendant: European Commission

Form of order sought

The applicant claims that the General Court should:

annul Commission Implementing Decision C(2013) 8743 final of 12 December 2013 on excluding from European Union financing certain expenditure incurred by the Member States under the Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF), under the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) (OJ 2013 L 338, p. 81) in so far as a financial correction of EUR 927 827.58 has been applied to the Republic of Finland on the ground that it has failed to fulfil its obligations under Article 55 of Regulation (EC) No 1974/2006;

order the Commission to pay the costs incurred by the Republic of Finland.

Pleas in law and main arguments

In support of the action, the applicant relies on a single plea in law, according to which the Commission has incorrectly interpreted and applied Article 55 of Regulation No 1974/2006. ¹ The Commission has erroneously considered that the rules laid down in Finland for the grant of aid for the purchase of second-hand machinery and equipment is not compatible with the second subparagraph of Article 55(1) of Regulation No 1974/2006.

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¹ Commission Regulation (EC) No 1974/2006 of 15 December 2006 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) (OJ 2006 L 368, p. 15).