20In that regard, it must first be recalled that it is not permissible for a party to alter the very subject-matter of the case during the proceedings, and that the merits of the action must be examined solely in the light of the claims contained in the application initiating the proceedings (see, inter alia, Case 232/78 Commission v France [1979] ECR 2729, paragraph 3; Case C-256/98 Commission v France [2000] ECR I-2487, paragraph 31; and Case C-508/03 Commission v United Kingdom [2006] ECR I-3969, paragraph 61).
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