19.2.2011

Official Journal of the European Union

C 55/16

(Case C-131/10) (<span class="super">1</span>)

(Protection of the European Union's financial interests - Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 - Article 3 - Limitation period for bringing proceedings - Time limit - Sectoral rules - Regulation (EC) No 2571/97 - Different application of the limitation rules in the case of an irregularity committed by the recipient of a subsidy or by the persons with whom the recipient has entered into contracts)

2011/C 55/28

Language of the case: French

Referring court

Parties to the main proceedings

Applicant: Corman SA

Defendant: Bureau d’intervention et de restitution belge (BIRB)

Re:

Reference for a preliminary ruling — Tribunal de première instance de Bruxelles — Interpretation of Article 3(1) and (3) of Council Regulation No 2988/95 of 18 December 1995 on the protection of the European Communities’ financial interests (OJ 1995 L 312, p. 1) — Determination of the limitation period for bringing proceedings — Applicability of the relevant sectoral Community provisions or the relevant national provisions — Different application of the limitation rules where an irregularity is committed by the recipient of the subsidy and where one is committed by persons with whom the recipient has entered into contracts?

Operative part of the judgment

1.Since it does not lay down a limitation rule for bringing proceedings applicable to the clearing to an appropriate account of securities provided in tendering procedures in the butter, concentrated butter and cream market, Commission Regulation (EC) No 2571/97 of 15 December 1997 on the sale of butter at reduced prices and the granting of aid for cream, butter and concentrated butter for use in the manufacture of pastry products, ice-cream and other foodstuffs does not constitute sectoral rules providing for a ‘shorter period’ within the meaning of the second sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 3(1) of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 of 18 December 1995 on the protection of the European Communities’ financial interests. The four year limitation period established in the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 3(1) of Regulation No 2988/95 therefore applies to the clearing to an appropriate account of such securities, subject, however, to the possibility retained by the Member States, under Article 3(3) of the regulation, of providing for longer limitation periods.

2.When bringing proceedings concerning an irregularity within the meaning of Article 1 of Regulation No 2988/95, Member States retain the possibility of applying longer limitation periods within the meaning of Article 3(3) of that regulation, which extends, in the context of Regulation No 2571/97, to situations in which the irregularities for which the successful tenderer is liable were committed by the persons with whom the tenderer has entered into contracts.

(<span class="super">1</span>) OJ C 148, 5.6.2010.