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Belgium / Council State / 237.860

Non profit organisation ‘Touche pas à mes certificats verts’, François Régis, Warin Christian v the Walloon Region
Deciding body type
National Court/Tribunal
Deciding body
Council of State
Type
Decision
Decision date
30/03/2017

Charte des droits fondamentaux de l'Union européenne

Title III: Equality

Article 20 - Equality before the law

Title III: Equality

Article 21 - Non-discrimination

VIEW FULL CASE
  • Belgium / Council State / 237.860

    Key facts of the case: 

    The requesting party requested the annulment of a Ministerial Decree of 2 October 2014 regulating electricity produced by renewable sources of energy. Before the adoption of the Ministerial Decree, owners of small solar panel installations received a number of green certificates which they could sell for a fixed amount. The Ministerial Decree changes this to a variable amount.  In its third plea, the requesting party alleged violation of Directive 2009/28/CE on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources and amending and subsequently repealing Directives 2001/77/EC and 2003/30/EC combined with Articles 20 and 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

    Outcome of the case: 

    The Council of State rejected the third plea by considering that neither Directive 2009/28/CE nor articles 20 and 21 of the Charter prevent the Walloon Region from adopting such a Ministerial Decree.

     

  • Paragraphs referring to EU Charter

    Considering that no disposition prohibits that the supports and benefits given to producers of green electricity can be modified for the future; that the rules on equality before the law and non-discrimination included in Articles 20 and 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union do not prevent it.  (VII.C.2)

  • Paragraphs referring to EU Charter (original language)

    Considérant qu’aucune de ces dispositions n’interdit que les soutiens et avantages accordés aux producteurs d’électricité verte soient modifiés pour l’avenir; que les règles de l’égalité devant la loi et de non-discrimination inscrites aux articles 20 et 21 de la Charte des droits fondamentaux de l’Union européenne n’y font pas davantage obstacle. (VII.C.2)