Official Journal of the European Union

C 243/6

(Joined Cases C-191/14, C-192/14, C-295/14, C-389/14 and C-391/14 to C-393/14) (<span class="super">1</span>)

((References for a preliminary ruling - Scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading in the European Union - Directive 2003/87/EC - Article 10a(5) - Method for allocating allowances - Free allocation of allowances - Method for calculating the uniform cross-sectoral correction factor - Decision 2011/278/EU - Article 15(3) - Decision 2013/448/EU - Article 4 - Annexe II - Validity))

(2016/C 243/04)

Languages of the case: German, Dutch and Italian

Referring courts

Parties to the main proceedings

(Case C-191/14)

Applicant: Borealis Polyolefine GmbH

Defendant: Bundesminister für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Umwelt und Wasserwirtschaft

(Case C-192/14)

Applicant: OMV Refining & Marketing GmbH

Defendant: Bundesminister für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Umwelt und Wasserwirtschaft

(Case C-295/14)

Applicants: DOW Benelux BV and Others

Defendant: Staatssecretaris van Infrastructuur en Milieu

(Case C-389/14)

Applicants: Esso Italiana Srl, Eni SpA, Linde Gas Italia Srl

Defendants: Comitato nazionale per la gestione della direttiva 2003/87/CE e per il supporto nella gestione delle attività di progetto del protocollo di Kyoto, Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio e del Mare, Ministero dell’Economia e delle Finanze, Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri

intervening party: Edison SpA

(Case C-391/14)

Applicant: Api Raffineria di Ancona SpA

Defendants: Comitato nazionale per la gestione della direttiva 2003/87/CE e per il supporto nella gestione delle attività di progetto del protocollo di Kyoto, Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio e del Mare, Ministero dello Sviluppo economico

intervening party: Edison SpA

(Case C-392/14)

Applicant: Lucchini in Amministrazione Straordinaria SpA

Defendants: Comitato nazionale per la gestione della direttiva 2003/87/CE e per il supporto nella gestione delle attività di progetto del protocollo di Kyoto, Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio e del Mare, Ministero dello Sviluppo economico

intervening party: Cofely Italia SpA

(Case C-393/14)

Applicant: Dalmine SpA

Defendants: Comitato nazionale per la gestione della direttiva 2003/87/CE e per il supporto nella gestione delle attività di progetto del protocollo di Kyoto, Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio e del Mare, Ministero dello Sviluppo economico

intervening parties: Cofely Italia SpA, Buzzi Unicem SpA

Operative part of the judgment

1.The examination of the first four questions in Cases C-191/14 and C-192/14, the third question in Case C-295/14 and the first question in Cases C-389/14 and C-391/14 to C-393/14 has disclosed nothing to affect the validity of Article 15(3) of Commission Decision 2011/278/EU of 27 April 2011 determining transitional Union-wide rules for harmonised free allocation of emission allowances pursuant to Article 10a of Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council in so far as that provision precludes emissions from electricity generators from being taken into account in the determination of the maximum annual amount of allowances;

2.Article 4 of, and Annex II to, Commission Decision 2013/448/EU of 5 September 2013 concerning national implementation measures for the transitional free allocation of greenhouse gas emission allowances in accordance with Article 11(3) of Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council are invalid;

3.The temporal effects of the declaration of invalidity of Article 4 of, and Annex II to, Decision 2013/448 are to be limited so that, first, that declaration does not produce effects until 10 months following the date of delivery of this judgment so as to enable the European Commission to adopt the necessary measures and, second, measures adopted during that period on the basis of the invalidated provisions cannot be called into question.

(<span class="super">1</span>) OJ C 303, 8.9.2014

OJ C 372, 20.10.2014.