Case T-119/10

Kingdom of the Netherlands

v

European Commission

(Actions for annulment — ERDF — Reduction of financial assistance — Programme Interreg II/C ‘Rhine-Meuse flood protection’ — Non-compliance with the period prescribed for the adoption of a decision — Infringement of essential procedural requirements — Action manifestly well founded)

Summary – Order of the General Court (Fifth Chamber), 13 September 2017

1.      Actions for annulment – Pleas in law – Infringement of essential procedural requirements – To be considered of the Court's own motion – Condition – Compliance with the principle that the parties should be heard

(Art. 263 TFEU)

2.      Economic, social and territorial cohesion – Structural assistance – European Union funding – Regulation No 1083/2006 – Financial corrections – Period prescribed for the adoption of the Commission’s decision  – Applicability to the programmes implemented before 2007

(Council Regulation No 1083/2006, Art. 100)

1.      See the text of the decision.

(see paras 64, 65)

2.      As regards the periods for the Commission to comply with before deciding on a financial correction regarding the clearance of the ERDF’s accounts, Article 100 of Regulation No 1083/2006 laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund also applies to programmes before the 2007-2013 period, in keeping with the principle that rules of procedure apply immediately after their entry into force. The Commission must therefore, for the purposes of the adoption of a decision to reduce a programme implemented before 1 January 2007, comply with the six-month time limit laid down in Article 100(5) of Regulation No 1083/2006.

(see paras 72, 75)