15.2.2014
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
C 45/2
Judgment of the Court (Grand Chamber) of 4 December 2013 — European Commission v Council of the European Union
(Case C-111/10) (1)
(Action for annulment - State aid - Article 108(1) and (2) TFEU - Aid granted by the Republic of Lithuania for the purchase of agricultural land - Competence of the Council of the European Union - Existing aid scheme - Appropriate measures - Two indissolubly connected aid schemes - Change of circumstances - Exceptional circumstances - Economic crisis - Manifest error of assessment - Principle of proportionality)
2014/C 45/02
Language of the case: English
Parties
Applicant: European Commission (represented by: V. Di Bucci, L. Flynn, B. Stromsky and A. Stobiecka-Kuik, acting as Agents)
Defendant: Council of the European Union (represented by: É. Sitbon and F. Florindo Gijón, acting as Agents)
Interveners in support of the defendant: Republic of Lithuania (represented by: D. Kriaučiūnas and L. Liubertaitė, acting as Agents), Hungary (represented by: G. Koós, M. Fehér and K. Szíjjártó, acting as Agents), Republic of Poland (represented by: M. Szpunar, acting as Agent)
Re:
Action for annulment — Annulment of Council Decision 2009/983/EU of 16 December 2009 on the granting of State aid by the authorities of the Republic of Lithuania for the purchase of State-owned agricultural land between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2013 (OJ 2009 L 338, p. 93) — Lack of competence — Misuse of powers — Infringement of the principle of sincere cooperation between Member States and institutions — Manifest error of assessment.
Operative part of the judgment
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders the European Commission to pay the costs;
3.
Orders the Republic of Lithuania, Hungary and the Republic of Poland to bear their own costs.
(1) OJ C 113, 1.5.2010.
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