Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Verwaltungsgericht Hannover (Germany) lodged on 11 May 2012 — Andreas Ingemar Thiele Meneses v Region Hannover

(Case C-220/12)

2012/C 287/29

Language of the case: German

Referring court

Verwaltungsgericht Hannover

Parties to the main proceedings

Applicant: Andreas Ingemar Thiele Meneses

Defendant: Region Hannover

Question referred

Does the right to freedom of movement and freedom of residence conferred on a Union citizen by Articles 20 and 21 TFEU preclude a regulatory system in national law under which German nationals with a permanent residence outside the Federal Republic of Germany may be awarded an education grant to attend an education establishment situated in a Member State of the European Union only if the education establishment is either in the country of permanent residence or in a neighbouring state of that country and, moreover, special circumstances of the individual case justify the grant?