62019TJ0599_INF
Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 3 March 2021 –EM v Parliament
(Case T‑599/19)
(Civil service – Members of the temporary staff – Psychological harassment – Request for assistance – Rejection of the request – Retirement – Duty to provide assistance – Principle of sound administration – Duty to have regard for the welfare of staff)
1.
Actions brought by officials – Action against a decision rejecting a complaint – Effect – Disputed measure referred to the Court – Exception – Decision not confirmatory in character – Account taken of the reasoning therein
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Arts 90 and 91)
(see paras 37, 38)
2.
Officials – Rights and obligations – Internal inquiry into alleged psychological harassment – Administration’s discretion – Scope
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 12a)
(see para. 56)
3.
Officials – Psychological harassment – Definition – Long-term lack of promotion – None – Right to promotion – None – Precluded
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Arts 12a(3) and 45)
(see paras 74-77)
4.
Actions brought by officials – Pleas in law – Claim of psychological harassment – Obligation to take the whole of the relevant factual background into account
(see paras 88, 89, 91, 99, 100, 102, 110, 145)
5.
Actions brought by officials – Prior administrative complaint – Time limits – Mandatory – Time-barred – Re-opening of a request for assistance – Precluded
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Arts 24, 90 and 91)
(see para. 90)
6.
Officials – Organisation of departments – Assignment of staff – Reassignment in the interest of the service – Right of the person concerned to be heard – None
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(2)(a); Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 7(1))
(see paras 93, 94)
7.
Actions brought by officials – Pleas in law – Misuse of powers – Definition – Burden and administration of proof
(see para. 107)
8.
Officials – Obligation of administration to provide assistance – Scope – Scope – Judicial review – Limits
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Arts 24 and 90(1))
(see paras 116, 117, 122-127, 143)
9.
Officials – Obligation of administration to provide assistance – Implementation in the case of psychological harassment – Handling of a request for assistance – Duty to act within a reasonable time – Scope
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Arts 12a and 24)
(see paras 118-120, 128, 129)
10.
Actions brought by officials – Application for damages linked to an application for annulment – Dismissal of claim for annulment leading to dismissal of the claim for compensation
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 91)
(see paras 169, 170)
Re:
Application under Article 270 TFEU seeking, first, annulment of the Parliament’s decision of 31 October 2018 rejecting the applicant’s request for assistance, as confirmed by the decision of 24 May 2019 rejecting his complaint and, secondly, compensation for the material and non-material harm which the applicant claims to have suffered as a result of those decisions.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders each party to bear its own costs.