Order of the Court of First Instance (First Chamber) of 14 July 2008 – Espinosa Labella and Others v Commission

(Case T-322/06)

Action for annulment – Directive 92/43/EEC – Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora – Decision 2006/613/EC – List of sites of Community importance for the Mediterranean biogeographical region – Challengeable act – Lack of direct effect – Inadmissible

1.                     Actions for annulment – Actionable measures – Meaning – Measures producing binding legal effects (Art. 230, first para., EC; Council Directive 92/43, Arts 4(2), (5) and 6; Commission Decision 2006/613, Art. 1, second para., and Annexes 1, 2 and 3) (see paras 24-28)

2.                     Actions for annulment – Natural or legal persons – Measures of direct and individual concern to them (Art. 230, fourth para., EC; Council Directive 92/43, Arts 4(5) and 6; Commission Decision 2006/613, Annex 1) (see paras 35-40)

Re:

Partial annulment of Commission Decision 2006/613/EC of 19 July 2006 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, the list of sites of Community importance for the Mediterranean biogeographical region (OJ 2006 L 259, p. 1), in so far as it declares the site designated as ‘Artos de El Ejido’, which includes lands belonging to the applicants, to be a site of Community importance for the Mediterranean biogeographical region.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action as inadmissible;

2. Orders Manuel José Espinosa Labella, Josefa Labella Dávalos, María Pilar Espinosa Labella, María José Espinosa Labella, Tomasa Peñuela Ortiz, Tomás Espinosa Peñuela, Francisco José Espinosa Peñuela, Juan Manuel Espinosa Peñuela, María Lourdes Espinosa Peñuela, Adela Espinosa Peñuela, Jorge Jesús Espinosa Peñuela and the heirs of Rafael Espinosa Peñuela to bear their own costs and to pay those of the Commission;

3. Orders the Kingdom of Spain to bear its own costs.