Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 16 October 2014 —
Federación Española de Hostelería v EACEA

(Case T‑340/13)

Action for annulment — Lifelong learning programme — Contract concerning the ‘Virtual simulator for language training for tourism professionals (e-client)’ — Pre-information letter — Contractual nature of dispute — Act not subject to appeal — No reclassification of contract

1.                     Judicial proceedings — Legal basis of an action — Choice for the applicant and not the EU judicature — Admissibility assessed in relation to the applicant’s choice (see paras 19-23)

2.                     Actions for annulment — Action relating in reality to a contractual dispute — No jurisdiction of the EU judicature — Inadmissibility (Arts 263 TFEU and 288 TFEU) (see paras 26-33)

3.                     Actions for annulment — Action relating in reality to a contractual dispute — Reclassification of the action — Conditions — Applicant not having expressly requested reclassification — Action not based on any plea claiming infringement of the rules governing the contractual relationship — Exclusion of reclassification (Arts 263 TFEU and 272 TFEU) (see paras 34-37)

Re:

APPLICATION for annulment of the EACEA’s pre-information letter of 5 April 2013 informing the applicant that it had to reimburse EUR 181 686.11 following the audit of the ‘Virtual simulator for language training for tourism professionals (e-client)’.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action as inadmissible;

2. Orders the Federación Española de Hostelería to pay the costs.