Judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 4 February 2016 —
Isotis v Commission

(Case T‑562/13)

Arbitration clause — Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme — REACH112 contract — Reimbursement of sums advanced — Eligible costs

1.                     Judicial proceedings — General Court seised under an arbitration clause — Jurisdiction of the General Court to hear a counterclaim for payment — Basis (Arts 256(1) TFEU and 272 TFEU) (see paras 46-48)

2.                     Judicial proceedings — General Court seised under an arbitration clause –Contract granting EU assistance for a project in the area of research, technological development and demonstration — Application for a declaration that certain costs and the payment of certain amounts eligible — Counterclaim accompanied by claim for default interest formulated in the defence — Admissibility (Art. 272 TFEU; Rules of Procedure of the General Court (1991)) (see paras 57-59, 61, 62)

3.                     Acts of the institutions — Statement of reasons — Obligation — Scope — Commission claiming repayment of sums advanced under a contract concluded in the context of a framework contract for innovation and competitiveness — No obligation to state reasons (Arts 288 TFEU and 296, second para., TFEU; Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(2)(c)) (see paras 79, 80)

4.                     Judicial proceedings — General Court seised under an arbitration clause — Jurisdiction of the General Court defined exclusively by Article 272 TFEU and the arbitration clause — Application of national provisions on jurisdiction — Not included — Application of national evidential rules — Included (Art. 272 TFEU) (see para. 89)

Re:

First, applications based on Article 272 TFEU, seeking, primarily, to have the Commission’s request seeking reimbursement of pre-financing of EUR 47 197.93 paid to the applicant under contract No 238940, ‘REsponding to All Citizens needing Help (REACH112)’, concluded between the Commission and the applicant to be declared unfounded, and, alternatively, to have the Commission’s request seeking reimbursement of that pre-financing as regards the expenses submitted to the Commission for the first reference period of the REACH112 project for a sum of EUR 13 821.12 to be declared unfounded, and, second, counterclaim seeking to order the applicant to reimburse the pre-financing unduly paid in the context of that contract and interest for late payment.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Declares that there is no need to adjudicate on Koinonia Tis Pliroforias Anoichti Stis Eidikes Anagkes — Isotis’ claim seeking a declaration that as the general conditions of the Sixth Framework Programme do not apply to the contract at issue, it cannot be liable for liquidated damages under that contract and that, therefore, the European Commission infringed the contract at issue by declaring its intention to claim such damages;

2. Declares that Koinonia Tis Pliroforias Anoichti Stis Eidikes Anagkes — Isotis’ application seeking a finding that there is no basis for the claim for reimbursement of pre-financing which it has received under contract No. 238940 ‘Responding to All Citizens Needing Help (REACH112 )’ is upheld as regards the costs declared by it for the first reference period of the REACH112 project;

3. Declares that Koinonia Tis Pliroforias Anoichti Stis Eidikes Anagkes — IsoTis’ action is dismissed as to the remainder;

4. Declares that the Commission’s application seeking to order reimbursement by Koinonia Tis Pliroforias Anoichti Stis Eidikes Anagkes — Isotis of pre-financing which it has received under contract No. 238940 ‘Responding to All Citizens Needing Help (REACH112)’ is rejected as regards the costs declared by it for the first reference period of the REACH112 project;

5. Orders Koinonia Tis Pliroforias Anoichti Stis Eidikes Anagkes — IsoTis to pay the Commission the amount of EUR 33 376.81, plus interest at the rate of 4% per annum as of 29 October 2013 and until full payment of that amount;

6. Orders Koinonia Tis Pliroforias Anoichti Stis Eidikes Anagkes — IsoTis and the Commission each to bear their own costs.