Order of the President of the of the General Court of 20 March 2018 –
Hércules Club de Fútbol v Commission

(Case T‑134/17 R)

(Interim proceedings — Access to documents — Documents relating to the administrative procedure prior to the adoption of a Commission decision on State aid implemented by Spain in favour of three professional football clubs — Rights of the defence — Refusal of access — Application for provisional measures — Lack of urgency)

1.      Application for interim measures — Suspension of operation of a measure — Interim measures — Conditions for granting — Prima facie case — Urgency — Serious and irreparable damage — Cumulative nature — Balancing of all the interests involved — Order of examination and method of verification — Discretion of the court hearing the application for interim relief

(Arts 256(1) TFEU, 278 TFEU and 279 TFEU; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 156)

(see paras 12, 14, 15)

2.      Application for interim measures — Suspension of operation of a measure — Interim measures — Conditions for granting — Urgency — Serious and irreparable damage — Burden of proof — Purely hypothetical damage based on the happening of future and uncertain events — Insufficient to demonstrate urgency

(Arts 278 TFEU and 279 TFEU; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 156(4))

(see paras 18, 19, 33, 40)

3.      Application for interim measures — Admissibility criteria — Application — Formal requirements — Pleas establishing a prima facie case for the measures applied for — Pleas in law not set out in the application — General reference to other documents — Inadmissibility

(Arts 278 TFEU and 279 TFEU; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 156(4) and (5))

(see paras 21, 22)

4.      Application for interim measures — Suspension of operation of a measure — Interim measures — Conditions for granting — Urgency — Serious and irreparable damage for the applicant — Damage relating to the proceedings in another case before the EU courts — Included — Conditions

(Arts 278 TFEU and 279 TFEU)

(see paras 34, 35)

Re:

Application on the basis of Articles 278 TFEU and 279 TFEU seeking an order that the Commission grant access to the documents in the file relating to State aid SA.36387 (2013/C) (ex 2013/NN) (ex 2013/CP) granted by Spain to Valencia Club de Fútbol, SAD, Hércules Club de Fútbol and Elche Club de Fútbol, SAD, in so far as they concern the applicant and fundamental to the proper defence of its interests.

Operative part

1. The application for interim measures is rejected.

2. The costs are reserved.

2. The costs are reserved.