62023TJ0420_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 11 December 2024 –Al-Assad v Council
(Case T‑420/23) (
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)
(Common foreign and security policy – Restrictive measures adopted in view of the situation in Syria – Freezing of funds – List of persons, entities and bodies subject to the freezing of funds and economic resources – Inclusion of the applicant’s name on the list – Family membership criterion – Article 15(1a)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 – Obligation to state reasons – Error of assessment)
1.
Common foreign and security policy – Restrictive measures against Syria – Legal basis – Restrictive measures laid down by a decision adopted on the basis of Article 29 TEU and by a regulation based on Article 215 TFEU – Adoption of an implementing regulation subject to the prior adoption of a decision on the basis of Article 29 TUE – Application for annulment directed solely against the implementing regulation adopted on the basis of Article 215 TFEU – Whether permissible
(Art. 29 TEU; Art. 215(1) TFEU; Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/847; Council Regulation 2023/844)
(see paragraphs 23-25)
2.
Acts of the institutions – Statement of reasons – Obligation – Scope – Restrictive measures against Syria – Prohibition on entry and transit as well as freezing of funds of leading businesspersons operating in Syria – 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 – Whether summary statement of reasons sufficient
(Art. 296 TFEU; Council Regulations No 36/2012 and 2023/844, Annex II)
(see paragraphs 40-56)
3.
European Union – Judicial review of the legality of the acts of the institutions – Restrictive measures against Syria – Scope of the review – Proof that the measure is well founded – Obligation on the competent EU authority to establish, in the event of challenge, that the reasons relied on against the persons or entities concerned are well founded
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 47; Council Regulations No 36/2012 and 2023/844, Annex II)
(see paragraphs 59-64)
4.
European Union – Judicial review of the legality of the acts of the institutions – Restrictive measures against Syria – Scope of the review – Inclusion of the applicant on the list annexed to the contested decision on account of his membership of the Assad or Makhlouf families – Documents available to the public – Probative value
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 47; Council Regulations No 36/2012 and 2023/844, Annex II)
(see paragraphs 65, 66)
5.
Common foreign and security policy – Specific restrictive measures against certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Syria – CFSP Decision 2013/255/CFSP and Regulation No 36/2012 – Assumption that influential businessmen and women engaged in activities in Syria and members of the Assad and Makhlouf families support the Syrian regime – Whether permissible – Conditions
(Council Decision 2013/255/CFSP, as amended by Decision (CFSP) 2015/1836, Arts 27(1) and (2)(b), and 28(1) and (2)(b); Council Regulations No 36/2012 and 2015/1828, Art. 15(1)(a) and (1a)(b))
(see paragraphs 68-79, 107-109)
6.
Common foreign and security policy – Specific restrictive measures against certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Syria – CFSP Decision 2013/255/CFSP and Regulation No 36/2012 – Assumption that members of the Assad and Makhlouf families support the Syrian regime – Whether permissible – Conditions – Rebuttable presumption – Evidence to the contrary – None
(Council Decision 2013/255/CFSP, as amended by Decision (CFSP) 2015/1836, Arts 27(1), (2)(b) and (3), and 28(1), (2)(b) and (3); Council Regulations No 36/2012 and 2015/1828, Art. 15(1)(a), (1a) and (1b))
(see paragraphs 80-84, 90-94, 98-101, 114-118)
7.
European Union – Judicial review of the legality of the acts of the institutions – Restrictive measures against Syria – Scope of the review – Criteria for adopting restrictive measures – Assumption that members of the Assad and Makhlouf families support the Syrian regime – Scope
(Council Decision 2013/255/CFSP, as amended by Decision (CFSP) 2015/1836, Arts 27(3) and 28(3); Council Regulations No 36/2012 and 2015/1828, Art. 15(1b))
(see paragraphs 95-97)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Mr Mudar Al-Assad to pay the costs.
(
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)	OJ C 52, 9.10.2023.