Judgment of the Court of First Instance (Third Chamber) of 20 September 2007 – Fachvereinigung Mineralfaserindustrie v Commission

(Case T-254/05)

State Aid – Measures to promote the use of insulation material from renewable raw materials – Decision declaring aid compatible with the common market – Preliminary examination – Action for annulment – Professional association – Meaning of ‘party concerned’ in Article 88(2) EC – Pleas in law on validity of decision – Inadmissibility

1.                     Actions for annulment – Natural or legal persons – Measures of direct and individual concern to them – Commission decision finding aid compatible with the common market without opening the formal investigation procedure (Arts 88(2) and (3) EC and 230, fourth para., EC) (see paras 30-36, 47)

2.                     Actions for annulment – Pleas in law – Interpretation by the court – Limits (Art. 230 EC) (see para. 48)

Re:

ACTION for annulment of Commission Decision C(2005) 379 of 11 February 2005 relating to State Aid N 260b/2004 (Germany – Prolongation of the scheme to promote the use of insulation material from renewable raw materials).

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the application as inadmissible;

2. Orders Fachvereinigung Mineralfaserindustrie eV Deutsche Gruppe der Eurima – European Insulation Manufacturers Association to bear its own costs and to pay the costs of the Commission;

3. Orders the Federal Republic of Germany to bear its own costs.