
Article 1 
The annual contributions granted by Germany to the Zweckverband Tierkörperbeseitigung in Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis and Landkreis Limburg-Weilburg (‘the beneficiary’) since 1 January 1979 in breach of Article 108(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union constitute State aid and are incompatible with the internal market.
Article 2 

1. Germany shall immediately recover from the beneficiary the aid referred to in Article 1 that has been paid since 26 May 1998.
2. The sums to be recovered shall bear interest from the date on which the aid payments referred to in paragraph 1 were made available to the beneficiary until their actual recovery.
3. The interest shall be calculated on a compound basis in accordance with Chapter V of Commission Regulation (EC) No 794/2004.
4. Germany shall halt all outstanding payments of aid referred to in paragraph 1 with effect from the date of adoption of this Decision.
Article 3 
Germany shall ensure that the aid referred to in Article 2(1) is paid back within four months following the date of notification of this Decision.
Article 4 

1. Germany shall give the Commission the following information within two months following notification of this Decision:
(a) the total amount (principal and interest) to be recovered from the beneficiary;
(b) a detailed description of the measures already taken or planned in order to comply with this Decision;
(c) documents showing that the beneficiary has been ordered to repay the aid.
2. Germany shall keep the Commission informed of the progress of the national measures taken to implement this Decision until recovery of the aid referred to in Article 2(1) has been completed. It shall immediately submit, on simple request by the Commission, information on the measures already taken or planned in order to comply with this Decision. It shall also provide detailed information concerning the amounts of aid and interest already recovered from the beneficiary.
Article 5 
This Decision is addressed to the Federal Republic of Germany.
Done at Brussels, 25 April 2012.
For the Commission
Joaquín ALMUNIA
Vice-President