Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 20 January 2015 — Spain v Commission

(Case T‑111/12)

Cohesion Fund — Reduction of financial assistance — Time-limit for adopting a decision

1.                     Economic, social and territorial cohesion — Structural assistance — EU financing — Suspension or reduction of financial assistance following irregularities — Time-limit for adoption of the Commission’s decision — Point from which time starts to run (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1303/2013, Art. 145(6); Council Regulations No 1164/94, Annex II, Art. H(2), as amended by Regulations No 1264/1999 and No 1265/1999, and No 1083/2006, Art. 100(5); Commission Regulation No 1386/2002, Art. 18(3)) (see paras 22-27)

2.                     Actions for annulment — Grounds — Infringement of essential procedural requirements — Non-compliance with a time-limit imposed by the EU legislature — To be considered of the Court’s own motion (Art. 263 TFEU; Council Regulation No 1083/2006, Art. 100(5)) (see paras 28, 33-35)

Re:

APPLICATION for annulment of Commission Decision C(2011) 9990 of 22 December 2011 concerning the reduction of the assistance granted under the Cohesion Fund to the projects ‘Solid waste disposal management in the autonomous community of Extremadura — 2001’ (CCI 2001.ES.16.C.PE.043), ‘Water supply and sewer systems in the Duero river basin — 2001’ (CCI 2000.ES.16.C.PE.070), ‘Solid waste disposal management in the autonomous community of Valencia — 2001 — Group II’ (CCI 2001.ES.16.C.PE.026) and ‘Sanitation systems and waste water treatment in Bierzo Bajo’ (CCI 2000.ES.16.C.PE.036).

Operative part

The Court:

1. Annuls Commission Decision C(2011) 9990 of 22 December 2011 concerning the reduction of the assistance granted under the Cohesion Fund to the projects ‘Solid waste disposal management in the autonomous community of Extremadura — 2001’ (CCI 2001.ES.16.C.PE.043), ‘Water supply and sewer systems in the Duero river basin — 2001’ (CCI 2000.ES.16.C.PE.070), ‘Solid waste disposal management in the autonomous community of Valencia — 2001 — Group II’ (CCI 2001.ES.16.C.PE.026) and ‘Sanitation systems and waste water treatment in Bierzo Bajo’ (CCI 2000.ES.16.C.PE.036);

2. Orders the European Commission to pay the costs.