Úrad specialnej prokuratury (Protection of the financial interests of the European Union - Criminal proceedings concerning offences relating to subsidy fraud - Judgment) [2020] EUECJ C-603/19 (01 October 2020)

Úrad specialnej prokuratury (Protection of the financial interests of the European Union - Criminal proceedings concerning offences relating to subsidy fraud - Judgment) [2020] EUECJ C-603/19 (01 October 2020)

Directive 2012/29/EU does not apply to legal persons or the State, even if national law confers on them the status of injured party in criminal proceedings. Article 325 TFEU does not preclude national law preventing the State from claiming compensation in criminal proceedings for fraud affecting EU funds, provided national law offers effective proceedings for recovery of wrongly received EU assistance.

Citation
[2020] EUECJ C-603/19
Parties
Accused: TG; Accused: UF; Prosecutor: Úrad špeciálnej prokuratúry Generálnej prokuratúry Slovenskej republiky (Office of the Special Prosecutor in the Department of the Public Prosecutor of the Slovak Republic); Injured Party: Úrady práce, sociálnych vecí a rodiny (district offices for labour, social affairs and family)
Jurisdiction
European Union
Judgment Date
01 October 2020
Procedural Posture
Request for Preliminary Ruling (criminal Proceedings) / Preliminary Reference to Court of Justice of the European Union
Outcome
Preliminary ruling issued; third and fourth questions declared inadmissible; interpretation of EU law provided for first and second questions.
Legal Topics
Interpretation of Article 325 TFEU, Interpretation of Directive 2012/29/eu, State Aid and De Minimis Rule, Fraud Affecting EU Financial Interests, Rights of Injured Parties in Criminal Proceedings
European Union Law Criminal Law Administrative Law Interpretation of Article 325 TFEU Interpretation of Directive 2012/29/eu State Aid and De Minimis Rule Fraud Affecting EU Financial Interests Rights of Injured Parties in Criminal Proceedings

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Parties

TG

Accused

UF

Accused

Úrad špeciálnej prokuratúry Generálnej prokuratúry Slovenskej republiky (Office of the Special Prosecutor in the Department of the Public Prosecutor of the Slovak Republic)

Prosecutor

Úrady práce, sociálnych vecí a rodiny (district offices for labour, social affairs and family)

Injured Party

Procedural Posture

Request for Preliminary Ruling (criminal Proceedings) / Preliminary Reference to Court of Justice of the European Union

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Does Directive 2012/29/EU apply to legal persons or the State as injured parties in criminal proceedings?
  2. 2 Does Article 325 TFEU preclude national law preventing the State from claiming compensation in criminal proceedings for fraud affecting EU funds, if other effective remedies exist?
  3. 3 How should 'the same undertaking' be interpreted for de minimis State aid purposes? (inadmissible)

Ratio Decidendi

Directive 2012/29/EU does not apply to legal persons or the State, even if national law confers on them the status of injured party in criminal proceedings. Article 325 TFEU does not preclude national law preventing the State from claiming compensation in criminal proceedings for fraud affecting EU funds, provided national law offers effective proceedings for recovery of wrongly received EU assistance.

Court Disposition

Preliminary ruling issued; third and fourth questions declared inadmissible; interpretation of EU law provided for first and second questions.

Orders

  • Article 2(1) of Directive 2012/29/EU does not apply to legal persons or the State, even if national law confers on them the status of injured party in criminal proceedings.
  • Article 325 TFEU does not preclude national law preventing the State from claiming compensation in criminal proceedings for fraud affecting EU funds, provided effective recovery proceedings exist under national law.