Information;Judgment — ECLI:EU:T:2025:931
Date: 2025-10-01
Language of the case: French
Court formation: Fifth Chamber
Procedure: Action for annulment;Action for damages

summary statement of reasons sufficient (Art. 296, second para., TFEU; Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/891, as amended by Decisions (CFSP) 2024/1242 and (CFSP) 2025/824; Council Regulations 2023/888, 2024/1243 and 2025/817) (see paragraphs 29-39) 2. Common foreign and security policy – Restrictive measures taken in view of the situation in Moldova – Decision to freeze funds – Judicial review of legality – Scope – Provision of general scope concerning an individual restrictive measure – Inclusion by way of a plea of illegality (Art. 29 TEU; Arts 275, first and second para., and 277 TFEU; Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/891, Arts 1(1)(b) and 2(1)(b); Council Regulation 2023/888) (see paragraphs 44-47) 3. Acts of the institutions – Choice of legal basis – Acts concerning the adoption of restrictive measures in view of the situation in Moldova – Prohibition of entry and transit and freezing of funds of persons associated with persons subject to restrictive measures – Article 29 TEU and Article 215(2) TFEU – Whether permissible (Arts 3(5), 21(2)(b), 23, 24 and 29 TEU; Art. 215(2) TFEU; Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/891, Arts 1(1)(b) and 2(1)(b); Council Regulation 2023/888) (see paragraphs 52-61) 4. Common foreign and security policy – Restrictive measures taken in view of the situation in Moldova – Legal basis – Restrictive measures provided for by a decision and a regulation adopted, respectively, on the basis of Article 29 TEU and Article 215 TFEU – Power of the Council to adopt restrictive measures designed to support the rule of law in an EU candidate country (Arts 21(2)(b) and 29 TEU; Art. 215(2) TFEU; Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/891, Arts 1(1)(b) and 2(1)(b); Council Regulation 2023/888) (see paragraph 64) 5. Common foreign and security policy – Restrictive measures taken in view of the situation in Moldova – Criteria for adopting restrictive measures – Person, entity or body associated with a person included on the list annexed to the contested decision – Compliance with the principle of legal certainty requiring clarity, precision and foreseeability of the effects of legal rules – Precautionary nature of the measures at issue (Art. 275, second para., TFEU; Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/891, Arts 1(1)(b) and 2(1)(b); Council Regulation 2023/888) (see paragraphs 78-84) 6. Common foreign and security policy – Restrictive measures taken in view of the situation in Moldova – Criteria for adopting restrictive measures – Person, entity or body associated with a person included on the list annexed to the contested decision – Council’s obligation to carry out an updated assessment in the course of the review of the restrictive measures – Evidence to the contrary – Position in respect of disassociation from the person subject to those measures – Absence – Error of assessment – None (Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/891, as amended by Decisions (CFSP) 2024/1242 and (CFSP) 2025/824, Arts 1(1)(b) and 2(1)(b); Council Regulations 2023/888, 2024/1243 and 2025/817) (see paragraphs 86, 115-124) 7. European Union – Judicial review of the legality of the acts of the institutions – Restrictive measures taken in view of the situation in Moldova – Scope of the review – Criteria for adoption (Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/891, as amended by Decisions (CFSP) 2024/1242 and (CFSP) 2025/824; Council Regulations 2023/888, 2024/1243 and 2025/817) (see paragraph 101) 8. European Union – Judicial review of the legality of the acts of the institutions – Restrictive measures taken in view of the situation in Moldova – Scope of the review – Inclusion of the applicant on the list annexed to the contested decision on the grounds of her association with persons subject to restrictive measures – Scope of the review – Assessment of the legality by reference to the information available at the time of adoption of the decision (Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/891, as amended by Decisions (CFSP) 2024/1242 and (CFSP) 2025/824; Council Regulations 2023/888, 2024/1243 and 2025/817) (see paragraph 102) 9. Common foreign and security policy – Restrictive measures taken in view of the situation in Moldova – Criteria for adopting restrictive measures – Person, entity or body associated with a person included on the list annexed to the contested decision – Concept of association – Common interests (Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/891, as amended by Decisions (CFSP) 2024/1242 and (CFSP) 2025/824, Arts 1(1)(b) and 2(1)(b); Council Regulations 2023/888, 2024/1243 and 2025/817) (see paragraph 106) 10. Common foreign and security policy – Restrictive measures taken in view of the situation in Moldova – Prohibition on entry and transit and freezing of funds of persons responsible for actions which undermine or threaten the sovereignty and independence of Moldova – Person, entity or body associated with a person included on the list annexed to the contested decision – Restriction of the right to property, freedom to conduct a business, freedom of expression and freedom of association – Whether permissible – Conditions – Restriction laid down by law – Respect for the essence of the right invoked – Pursuit of a general interest recognised as such by the European Union – Observance of the principle of proportionality – Conditions met (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Arts 11, 12, 16 and 17; Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/891, as amended by Decisions (CFSP) 2024/1242 and (CFSP) 2025/824, Arts 1(1)(b) and 2(1)(b), (3) and (4); Council Regulations 2023/888, Arts 3(1), 4(2), 5(1) and 6(1), 2024/1243 and 2025/817) (see paragraphs 129-138) Operative part The Court: 1. Dismisses the action; 2. Orders Ms Maria Albot to pay the costs.