62024TO0148_INF
Order of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 26 June 2025 –CW v Europol and Eurojust (EncroChat)
(Case T‑148/24)
(Non-contractual liability – Cooperation between police authorities and other law enforcement services of the Member States – Alleged unlawful processing of personal data – Failure to comply with formal requirements – Article 76(d) of the Rules of Procedure – No non-material damage suffered as a result of acts of Europol – Action in part manifestly inadmissible and in part manifestly lacking any foundation in law)
1.
Judicial proceedings – Application initiating proceedings – Formal requirements – Identification of the subject matter of the dispute – Summary of the pleas in law on which the application is based – Action seeking compensation for loss caused by an EU institution – No indications as to the allegedly wrongful act – Inadmissibility
(Arts 268 and 340 TFEU; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 76(d); European Parliament and Council Regulation 2018/1727, Art. 46(1))
(see paragraphs 20, 21, 31)
2.
Non-contractual liability – Conditions – Unlawfulness – Damage – Causal link – Actual and certain damage – Burden of proof – Action not containing information capable of demonstrating the existence and extent of non-material damage – Obligation for the General Court to supplement the line of argument by searching for and identifying such information in the annexes to the applicant’s pleadings or by ordering that material be produced – None – Action dismissed in its entirety
(Art. 340 TFEU; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 85(1) and (2); European Parliament and Council Regulation 2016/794, Art. 50(1))
(see paragraphs 41, 43, 44, 53, 57, 63, 67, 74, 76)
3.
Non-contractual liability – Conditions – Regulation 2016/794 – Liability for the unlawful processing of personal data – Nature of that liability – Joint and several liability of Europol and the Member State concerned
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2016/794, recital 57 and Art. 50(1))
(see paragraphs 72, 73)
Operative part
1.
The action is dismissed as being manifestly inadmissible in so far as it is directed against the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust).
2.
The action is dismissed as manifestly lacking any foundation in law in so far as it is directed against the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol).
3.
CW shall bear his own costs and pay those incurred by Eurojust and Europol.
4.
The Kingdom of Spain and the Kingdom of the Netherlands shall bear their own costs.