Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Înalta Curte de Casație și Justiție (Romania) lodged on 6 December 2011 — S.C. ‘Augustus’ Srl Iași v Agenția de Plăți pentru Dezvoltare Rurală și Pescuit

(Case C-627/11)

2012/C 65/09

Language of the case: Romanian

Referring court

Înalta Curte de Casație și Justiție

Parties to the main proceedings

Applicant: S.C. ‘Augustus’ Srl Iași

Defendant: Agenția de Plăți pentru Dezvoltare Rurală și Pescuit

Question referred

Are Council Regulations No 1260/1999 (1) and No 1268/1999 (2) to be interpreted as meaning that the business activity engaged in by the beneficiaries of the SAPARD funds granted in the period preceding the accession of Romania to the European Union must be conducted in compliance with the conditions for the grant of those funds, in accordance with the principle of the economic efficiency and profitability of the beneficiary, given also the specific circumstances relied upon, namely the natural disasters which occurred in the area?

(1)  Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds (OJ 1999 L 161, p. 1).

(2)  Council Regulation (EC) No 1268/1999 of 21 June 1999 on Community support for pre-accession measures for agriculture and rural development in the applicant countries of central and eastern Europe in the pre- accession period (OJ 1999 L 161, p. 87).