GvW Graf von Westphalen successful for the German dairy industry - Court of First Instance of the European Union annuls Commission's aid decision
By its judgment delivered today in Joined Cases T-722/15, T-723 and T-724/15, the Court of First Instance of the European Union (CFI) annulled an order of the European Commission which was directed against the established system of independent milk quality checks in Germany.
The case concerned an investigation into milk quality before processing financed by a levy on all milk purchasers and the Land of Bavaria. The European Commission wanted to recognise prohibited state aid in this system. Accordingly, the Commission ordered the Federal Republic of Germany to recover from milk purchasers the money used for milk quality checks, even though they had no advantage at all due to the prior payment of the financing levy.
The Court agreed with GvW Graf von Westphalen's assessment that the Commission's decision was unlawful, in particular that the essential procedural rights of the parties had not been respected.
The plaintiffs were successfully represented by the Hamburg-based GvW partner Dr Carsten Bittner, who specializes in food law and regularly assists clients in matters of European agricultural state aid law.
News
Federal Administrative Court: Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link may be built
The Federal Administrative Court has dismissed all six pending appeals against the planning decision on the Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link. Construction of the tunnel may therefore now also begin in Germany. GvW advised the State of Schleswig-Holstein and was represented by a Hamburg team consisting of Dr Ronald Steiling (lead), Corinna Lindau, Dr Dietrich Drömann, Prof. Dr Christian Winterhoff, Dr Andreas Wolowski, Saskia Soravia, Dr Stefanie Ramsauer, Dr Annika Bleier, Felix Kazimierski and Niclas Langhans. (BVerwG 9 A 6.19, 9 A 7.19, 9 A 9.19, 9 A 10.19, 9 A 11.19, 9 A 12.19 and 9 A 13.19).
H4 Hotel Mönchengladbach at BORUSSIA-PARK: the place for that Bundesliga feeling
Football is king at H-Hotel Group’s new H4 Hotel in Mönchengladbach. Its location right next to the stadium and the theme rooms depicting the history of the Borussia Dortmund football club make this new hotel unique and a must for any football enthusiast. Our lawyers had the pleasure of advising H-Hotels Group on the creation of its first football-themed hotel and took the chance to visit this amazing place shortly after its opening.
Transport System Bögl: new local public passenger transport system a big success in China
The Max Bögl group of companies has developed a new local public passenger transport system. The system called “Transport System Bögl” (TSB) uses magnetic levitation, or “maglev” technology and provides a clean and cost-efficient means of transport for better mobility in inner city areas. The technology is becoming increasingly popular also in other countries: Max Bögl’s most recent export order was the sale of its TSB to China. The company’s plans include building a 3.5 km test track in Chengdu and extensive marketing activities to promote the technology in China – all through a sales partnership with a Chinese company.

You don't want to miss any more of the latest legal developments? And be invited to our events? Then register here.