Order of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 12 June 2012 —

Vesteda Groep v Commission

(Case T-206/10)

State aid — Scheme of aid granted by the Netherlands to social housing corporations — Existing aid — Decision accepting the commitments made by the Member State — Action for annulment — Locus standi — Inadmissibility

1.                     Actions for annulment — Natural or legal persons — Measures of direct and individual concern to them — Commission decision terminating an aid proceeding — Competitor of the undertaking receiving the aid — Right to bring an action — Conditions (Arts 108 TFEU and 263, fourth para., TFEU) (see paras 31, 32, 34-37)

2.                     State aid — Existing aid — Examination by the Commission of the compatibility of the aid within the common market — Undertakings given by the Member State dispensing the aid — Commission unable to open the formal investigation procedure — No obligation on the Commission to place the parties challenged in a position to submit their observations (Art. 108 TFEU; Council Regulation No 659/1999, Art. 19(1)) (see paras 43-48)

Re:

APPLICATION for annulment of Commission Decision C(2009) 9963 final of 15 December 2009 relating to State aid E 2/2005 and N 642/2009 — (Netherlands) — Existing and special project aid to housing corporations.

Operative part

1.

The action is dismissed.

2.

Vesteda Groep BV is ordered to bear its own costs and pay those incurred by the European Commission.