Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 10 October 2014 —
Marchiani v Parliament(Case T‑479/13)
Rules governing the payment of expenses and allowances to Members of the European Parliament — Parliamentary assistance allowance — Recovery of undue payments
1.                     Actions for annulment — Admissibility — Dismissal of an action on the merits without ruling on admissibility — Discretion of the Courts of the Union (Art. 263 TFEU) (see para. 23)
2.                     European Parliament — Regulation governing the payment of expenses and allowances to Members — Recovery of sums unduly paid — Parliamentary allowances — Application of the provisions of Regulation No 966/2012 as a lex specialis in relation to the procedure laid down by the legislation concerning the expenses and allowances of MEPs (European Parliament and Council Regulation No 966/2012, Arts 78 and 79; European Parliament Decision 2005/684) (see paras 27-31)
3.                     European Parliament — Regulation governing the payment of expenses and allowances to Members — Parliamentary assistance allowances — Lack of documents to evidence use in accordance with rules — Obligation to repay — Conditions for granting the allowance met at the time of the application — No effect (see paras 45, 46, 49, 54)
4.                     European Parliament — Regulation governing the payment of expenses and allowances to Members — Recovery of sums unduly paid — Request for reimbursement in the form of a debit note — Duty to act within a reasonable time — Criteria for assessment (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(1)) (see paras 81-84, 88)
Re:
APPLICATION for the annulment of (i) the decision of the Secretary-General of the European Parliament of 4 July 2013 concerning the recovery from the applicant of a sum of EUR 107 694.72 and of (ii) the related debit note of 5 July 2013.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Mr Jean-Charles Marchiani to pay the costs.