19.12.2009

Official Journal of the European Union

C 312/17

(Case C-385/09)

2009/C 312/28

Language of the case: Lithuanian

Referring court

Parties to the main proceedings

Applicant: Nidera Handelscompagnie B.V.

Defendant: Valstybinė mokesčių inspekcija prie Lietuvos Respublikos finansų ministerijos

Questions referred

1.Is legislation under which the right to deduct VAT is given only to VAT payers — that is to say, only to taxable persons registered as VAT payers in a Member State (in this case, in Lithuania) according to the established procedures — in accordance with the provisions of Directive 2006/112/EC governing the right to deduct VAT?

2.If the answer to the first question is in the affirmative, is it in accordance with the general principles of the right to deduct VAT that are laid down in Directive 2006/112/EC if such legislation provides that a VAT payer has the right to deduct input and/or import VAT in respect of goods and/or services acquired before the date of his registration as a VAT payer only if those goods will be used for an activity of that VAT payer that is subject to VAT, that is to say, input and/or import VAT in respect of goods and services acquired before the date of his registration as a VAT payer may not be deducted if those goods have already been used for that activity?