62016TJ0554_INF
Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 30 June 2021 –BZ v ECB
(Case T‑554/16)
(Public service – ECB staff – Application for recognition of the occupational origin of a disease – Articles 6.3.11 to 6.3.13 of the ECB Staff Rules – Irregularity of the procedure – No inquiry report – Non-contractual liability)
1.
Actions brought by officials – Staff of the European Central Bank – Act adversely affecting an official – Meaning – Decision closing a procedure for recognition of the occupational origin of a disease due to the failure of the member of staff concerned to attend the medical examination organised – Included
(European Central Bank Staff Rules, Art. 6.13.12(b))
(see para. 68)
2.
Officials – Staff of the European Central Bank – Social security – Insurance against the risk of accident and of occupational disease – Establishing whether a disease results from an official’s occupation – Procedure – Application by analogy of the case-law developed in relation to the Staff Regulations
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 73; Rules on insurance against the risk of accident and of occupational disease, Arts 16(1) and (2), 17, 18 and 21; European Central Bank Staff Rules, Arts 6.3.11 to 6.3.15)
(see paras 70-73)
3.
Officials – Staff of the European Central Bank – Social security – Insurance against the risk of accident and of occupational disease – Establishing whether a disease results from an official’s occupation – Procedure – Administrative enquiry – None – Irregularity – Uncooperative conduct of the interested party – Irrelevant
(Rules on insurance against the risk of accident and of occupational disease, Art. 18; European Central Bank Staff Rules, Article 6.3.11(b) and (c))
(see paras 75, 76, 83)
4.
Officials – Staff of the European Central Bank – Social security – Insurance against the risk of accident and of occupational disease – Establishing whether a disease results from an official’s occupation – Procedure – Administrative enquiry – None – Obligation for the interested party to attend a medical examination seeking to verify the occupational origin of a disease – Absence
(European Central Bank Staff Rules, Article 6.3.11(c))
(see para. 80)
5.
Officials – Staff of the European Central Bank – Social security – Insurance against the risk of accident and of occupational disease – Establishing whether a disease results from an official’s occupation – Procedure – Administrative enquiry – Purpose
(European Central Bank Staff Rules, Article 6.3.11(b))
(see para. 84)
Re:
Application under Article 270 TFEU and Article 50a of the Statute of the Court of Justice of the European Union seeking, first, annulment of the decision of the ECB of 23 July 2014 which closed the procedure for recognition of the occupational origin of the applicant’s disease, and second, compensation for the material and non-material harm that the applicant allegedly suffered as a result of that decision.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Annuls the decision of the European Central Bank (ECB) of 23 July 2014 which closed the procedure for recognition of the occupational origin of BZ’s disease;
2.
Dismisses the action as to the remainder;
3.
Orders the ECB to pay the costs.