Action brought on 1 April 2010 - Bank Nederlandse Gemeenten NV v Commission

(Case T-151/10)

Language of the case: Dutch

Parties

Applicant: Bank Nederlandse Gemeenten NV (The Hague, Netherlands) (represented by: B. Drijber, lawyer)

Defendant: European Commission

Form of order sought

Annul the Commission's Decision of 15 December 2009 (C(2009)9963) in so far as concerns the Commission's finding that the opportunity for housing corporations to borrow from the Bank Nederlandse Gemeenten NV constitutes State aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU;

Order the Commission to pay the costs.

Pleas in law and main arguments

The applicant's application is for the partial annulment of Commission Decision C(2009)9963 final of 15 December 2009 concerning State aid No E 2/2005 and N 642/2009 - The Netherlands, Existing and special project aid to housing corporations.

In support of its application the applicant submits, first, that the contested decision is contrary to Article 107(1) TFEU because the Commission's conclusion that the applicant's loans constituted State aid was based on an incorrect interpretation of the condition for liability.

Second, the contested decision is contrary to Article 107(1) TFEU because the Commission's conclusion that the applicant's loans were not in accordance with market conditions, and therefore contained an advantage, was based on an incorrect interpretation of the facts.

Third, the Commission infringed the obligation to state reasons and the principle of care because, despite the submissions concerning the loans which the applicant put forward through the Netherlands authorities, the Commission found, without any investigation, that the loans were State aid.

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