62020TJ0409_INF
Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 21 December 2021 –KS v Frontex
(Case T‑409/20)
(Civil service – Members of the temporary staff – Fixed-term contract – Termination of the contract – Breakdown in the relationship of trust – Article 47(b)(ii) of the CEOS – Right to be heard – Duty to have regard for the welfare of staff – Requests for assistance and compensation – Action for annulment and compensation)
1.
Officials – Members of the temporary staff – Termination of a fixed-term contract on the ground of a breakdown in the relationship of trust – Obligation to state reasons – Scope
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(2)(c); Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 25, second para.; Conditions of Employment of other Servants, Art. 47(b)(ii))
(see paras 51-58)
2.
Officials – Members of the temporary staff – Principles – Rights of the defence – Scope – Obligation to hear the person concerned before adoption of a decision dismissing that person on grounds connected with the relationship of mutual trust – Scope – Burden of proof
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(2)(a); Conditions of Employment of Other Servants, Art. 47(b)(ii))
(see paras 67-71, 85, 87, 88)
3.
Officials – Members of the temporary staff – Termination of a contract for a fixed period – Administration’s discretion – Administration’s duty to have regard for the interests of officials – Taking into consideration of the interests of the staff member concerned and those of the service – Justification based on break of the link of confidence – Judicial review – Limits – Manifest error of assessment – Concept – Burden of proof
(Conditions of Employment of other Servants, Art. 47(b)(ii))
(see paras 100-102, 104, 113, 126, 127)
4.
Officials – Rights and obligations – Allegation of facts giving rise to a presumption of the existence of illegal activity or a serious failure to comply – Scope of the obligation – Protection of the official who communicated such facts – Limits
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Arts 21a(3) and 22a(3))
(see para. 140)
5.
Officials – Principles – Right to the presumption of innocence – Scope
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 48(1))
(see paras 151, 152)
6.
Officials – Members of the temporary staff – Termination of a contract for a fixed period – Administration’s discretion – No obligation to hold a disciplinary procedure
(Conditions of Employment of Other Servants, Arts 47(b)(ii) and 49(1))
(see para. 154)
7.
Actions brought by officials – Judgment annulling a measure – Effects – Obligation to implement – Judgment annulling a decision refusing a request for assistance – Applicant claiming compensation for material harm suffered – Premature nature of the claim
(Art. 266 TFEU; Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 24)
(see para. 179)
Re:
Application under Article 270 TFEU seeking, first, annulment of Frontex’s decision of 30 August 2019 terminating the applicant’s fixed-term contract of employment and of the decision of 13 February 2020 rejecting the applicant’s requests for assistance and compensation and, second, compensation for the non-material damage which the applicant has suffered as a result.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Annuls the decision of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) of 13 February 2020 in so far as it rejected KS’s request for assistance;
2.
Dismisses the action as to the remainder;
3.
Orders KS to bear half of his own costs;
4.
Orders Frontex to bear its own costs and to pay half of the costs incurred by KS.