25.9.2017

Official Journal of the European Union

C 318/15

(Case T-451/17)

(2017/C 318/21)

Language of the case: German

Parties

Applicant: Verband der Deutschen Biokraftstoffindustrie e.V. (Berlin, Germany) (represented by: R. Stein, P. Friton and H.-J. Prieß, lawyers)

Defendant: European Commission

Form of order sought

The applicant claims that the Court should:

—annul the Commission Communication under register number BK/abd/ener.c.1(2017)2122195, insofar as it prescribes on page 5 the use of an emissions factor of 99,57 g CO₂ eq per MJ of methanol for the calculation of the greenhouse gas emissions of biodiesel; and

—order the defendant to pay the costs of the proceedings.

Pleas in law and main arguments

In support of the action, the applicant relies on two pleas in law.

1.First plea in law: infringement of Directive 2009/28/EC (1) by reason of deviation from the specified calculation methodology

—The applicant claims that, under Article 19(1)(b), the methodology laid down in Annex V, Part C, to Directive 2009/28/EC is to be used where actual values are referred to in order to calculate an emissions factor. In accordance with Annex V, Part C, point 13, to Directive 2009/28/EC, emissions from the fuel in use (eu) are taken to be zero for biofuels and bioliquids. The contested communication requires the voluntary certification systems to use a calculation deviating from Annex V, Part C, point 13, to Directive 2009/28/EC, which also includes emissions from fuel use, within a set deadline.

—The deviation from Annex V, Part C, point 13, to Directive 2009/28/EC infringes the procedural requirements of that directive. An adjustment of the methodology in Annex V to the directive at all times requires, in accordance with the second sentence of Article 19(7) of the directive, compliance with the procedure set out in Article 25(4) of the directive. That provision in turn refers to Article 5a(1) to (4) and Article 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC (2) having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof, according to which a Regulatory Procedure with Scrutiny Committee is to be convened and review by the European Parliament and Council must take place. The form of an informal communication at short notice should not have been chosen.

2.Second plea in law: infringement of the EU-law principles of proportionality, legal certainty and protection of legitimate expectations by the setting of an unreasonably short transitional period, expiring on 1 September 2017, for the certification systems to implement the calculation methodology which is contrary to the directive

—The protection of legitimate expectations is not guaranteed, since the procedural deadlines and deadlines for transposition are unreasonably short.

—There is an infringement of the principle of legal certainty due to the unreasonable difficulties in implementation.

*

(1) Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources and amending and subsequently repealing Directives 2001/77/EC and 2003/30/EC (OJ 2009 L 140, p. 16).

(2) Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission (OJ 1999 L 184, p. 23).