62022TJ0252_INF
Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 6 September 2023 –Timchenko v Council
(Case T‑252/22) (
1
)
(Common foreign and security policy – Restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine – Freezing of funds – Inclusion and maintenance of the applicant’s name on the lists of persons, entities and bodies concerned – Obligation to state reasons – Article 2(1)(a) and (d) of Decision 2014/145/CFSP – Error of assessment – Right to be heard)
1.
Acts of the institutions – Statement of reasons – Obligation – Scope – Restrictive measures taken having regard to the situation in Ukraine – Freezing of funds – Decision falling within a context known to the person concerned, enabling him or her to understand the scope of the measure taken against him or her
(Art. 296 TFEU; Council Decision 2014/145/CFSP, as amended by Decisions (CFSP) 2022/337 and 2022/1530; Council Regulations Nos 269/2014, 2022/336 and 2022/1529)
(see paragraphs 30-35, 40-47, 56)
2.
European Union – Judicial review of the legality of the acts of the institutions – Restrictive measures taken having regard to the situation in Ukraine – Scope of the review – Proof that the measure is well founded – Factual basis – Specific, precise and consistent information
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 47; Council Decision 2014/145/CFSP, as amended by Decisions (CFSP) 2022/337 and 2022/1530; Council Regulations Nos 269/2014, 2022/336 and 2022/1529)
(see paragraphs 62-64, 108-114, 118-124)
3.
European Union – Judicial review of the legality of the acts of the institutions – Restrictive measures taken having regard to the situation in Ukraine – Scope of the review – Inclusion of the applicant on the list annexed to the contested decision by virtue of his support for actions and policies compromising the territorial integrity of Ukraine and his material and financial support for Russian decision-makers – Documents available to the public – Probative value
(Council Decision 2014/145/CFSP, as amended by Decisions (CFSP) 2022/337 and 2022/1530; Council Regulations Nos 269/2014, 2022/336 and 2022/1529)
(see paragraphs 70-72, 74, 75, 79-83, 86)
4.
Common foreign and security policy – Restrictive measures taken having regard to the situation in Ukraine – Freezing of funds – Rights of the defence – Notification of inculpatory evidence – Subsequent decision maintaining the name of the applicant on the list of persons covered by those measures – No new grounds – Infringement of the right to be heard – Absence/Lack/None (or combine with previous headwords)
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(2)(a); Council Decision 2014/145/CFSP, as amended by Decisions (CFSP) 2022/337 and 2022/1530; Council Regulations Nos 269/2014, 2022/336 and 2022/1529)
(see paragraphs 131, 135-139)
5.
EU law – Principles – Rights of the defence – Right to effective judicial protection – Restrictive measures taken having regard to the situation in Ukraine – Right to a prior formal hearing – No such right
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(2)(a); Council Decision 2014/145/CFSP, as amended by Decisions (CFSP) 2022/337 and 2022/1530; Council Regulations Nos 269/2014, 2022/336 and 2022/1529)
(see paragraph 132)
6.
Non-contractual liability – Conditions – Unlawfulness – Injury – Causal link – One of those conditions not met – Action for damages dismissed in its entirety
(Art. 340, second para., TFEU)
(see paragraphs 142, 143)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Mr Gennady Nicolayevich Timchenko to pay the costs.
(
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)	OJ C 244, 27.6.2022.