62019TJ0703_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Fourth Chamber) of 21 December 2021 –DD v FRA
(Case T‑703/19)
(Action for damages – Civil service – Members of the temporary staff – Initiation of an administrative inquiry – Article 86(2) of the Staff Regulations – Duty to provide information – Duration of the procedure – Reasonable time – Obligation to state reasons – Manifest error of assessment – Confidentiality of the administrative inquiry – Duty to have regard for the welfare of officials – Non-material damage – Causal link)
1.
Officials – Non-contractual liability of the institutions – Conditions – Unlawfulness – Meaning – Application in proceedings concerning the Staff Regulations – Requirement of a breach of a rule of law intended to confer rights on individuals – None
(Arts 268 and 340, second para., TFEU; Staff Regulations of Officials, Arts 90 and 91)
(see paras 38-40)
2.
Officials – Disciplinary measures – Inquiry preceding the initiation of disciplinary proceedings – Administration’s discretion – Scope – Conditions
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Annex IX, Arts 1 and 2, Sections 4 and 5)
(see paras 67, 68, 71)
3.
Officials – Disciplinary measures – Inquiry preceding the initiation of disciplinary proceedings – Administration’s discretion – Infringement of the presumption of innocence – None
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Annex IX, Art. 2)
(see paras 75, 76)
4.
Officials – Rights and obligations – Duties of loyalty and confidentiality – Member of the temporary staff serving a notice period following a decision to terminate his or her contract – Irrelevant
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Arts 11 and 17)
(see paras 79, 80)
5.
Officials – Disciplinary measures – Inquiry preceding the initiation of disciplinary proceedings – Obligation of the administration to conduct the inquiry until its completion if there is sufficient prima facie evidence – Definitive position of the administration on the reported facts
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Annex IX, Art. 2)
(see para. 84)
6.
Officials – Disciplinary measures – Inquiry preceding the initiation of disciplinary proceedings – Obligation to inform the person concerned – Scope
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Annex IX, Arts 1(1) and 2(1))
(see paras 91-93, 97)
7.
Officials – Disciplinary measures – Inquiry preceding the initiation of disciplinary proceedings – Obligation to communicate to the person concerned the documents directly related to the allegations made against him or her – Scope
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Annex IX, Art. 2(2))
(see paras 103, 104, 107, 109-111)
8.
Officials – Disciplinary measures – Inquiry preceding the initiation of disciplinary proceedings – Obligation on the administration to act within a reasonable period – Criteria for assessment
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Annex IX, Art. 2)
(see paras 114-123, 132, 133, 138)
9.
Officials – Disciplinary measures – Inquiry preceding the initiation of disciplinary proceedings – Decision to close the inquiry without taking any action – Obligation to state reasons – None
(Art. 296 TFEU; Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(2)(c); Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 25, second para., and Annex IX, Art. 3)
(see paras 145-148)
10.
Officials – Disciplinary measures – Inquiry preceding the initiation of disciplinary proceedings – Requirement of impartiality – Scope – Challenge – Burden of proof
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Annex IX, Art. 2)
(see paras 187-189, 191)
11.
Actions brought by officials – Prior administrative complaint – Rejection decision – Obligation to state reasons – Scope – Rejection of the arguments of the person concerned regarding the findings of an inquiry into that person’s behaviour – Infringement of the presumption of innocence – None
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 90)
(see paras 203, 204, 206, 212)
12.
Actions brought by officials – Actions for damages – Claim for compensation for non-material damage caused by the excessive duration of the administrative inquiry – Admissibility
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Arts 90 and 91)
(see para. 233)
13.
Officials – Non-contractual liability of the institutions – Conditions – Damage – Burden of proof
(see paras 237, 238)
Re:
Action under Article 270 TFEU seeking, in essence, compensation for the non-material damage allegedly suffered by the applicant estimated ex aequo et bono at EUR 50000 as a result of the initiation and conduct of an administrative procedure within FRA.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders DD to bear his own costs and to pay those incurred by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA).