62021TJ0557_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 24 May 2023 –Omeliyanyuk v Council
(Case T‑557/21) (
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)
(Common foreign and security policy – Restrictive measures adopted in view of the situation in Belarus – Freezing of funds – Restriction on entry into the territory of the Member States – Inclusion of the applicant’s name on the lists of persons, entities and bodies concerned – Duty to state reasons – Error of assessment – Proportionality)
1.
Acts of the institutions – Statement of reasons – Obligation – Scope – Restrictive measures against Belarus – Freezing of funds of certain persons and entities having regard to the situation in Belarus – 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 – No infringement
(Art. 296 TFEU; Council Decision 2012/642/CFSP, as amended by Decision (CFSP) 2021/1002, Annex; Council Regulations No 765/2006 and 2021/997, Annex)
(see paragraphs 17-27)
2.
European Union – Judicial review of the legality of the acts of the institutions – Restrictive measures against Belarus – Freezing of funds of certain persons and entities having regard to the situation in Belarus – Scope of the review – 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 – Proof that the measure is well founded – Factual basis – Specific, precise and consistent information
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 47; Council Decision 2012/642/CFSP, as amended by Decision (CFSP) 2021/1002, Annex; Council Regulations No 765/2006 and 2021/997, Annex)
(see paragraphs 38-41, 56, 60, 62, 63)
3.
Common foreign and security policy – Restrictive measures against Belarus – Criteria for adopting restrictive measures – Persons, entities and bodies responsible for serious violations of human rights, repression of civil society or democratic opposition, or undermining democracy or the rule of law – Inclusion of the applicant’s name on the list annexed to the contested decision by reason of his or her office – Evidence to the contrary – Position taken disassociating himself from the acts adopted by the Parliamentary Commission of the laws of Belarus – None – No error of assessment
(Council Decision 2012/642/CFSP, as amended by Decision (CFSP) 2021/1002, Art. 3(1)(a), and Art. 4(1)(a), Annex; Council Regulations No 765/2006, Arts 2(4) and (5), and 2021/997, Annex)
(see paragraphs 44-48, 68-70)
4.
Common foreign and security policy – Restrictive measures against Belarus – Freezing of funds of certain persons and entities having regard to the situation in Belarus – Restriction on the right of residence and of free movement within the European Union – Restrictive measures pursuing a legitimate aim of the common foreign and security policy – No breach of principle of proportionality
(Art. 21(2)(b), Council Decision 2012/642/CFSP, as amended by Decision (CFSP) 2021/1002, Arts 3(6), 5, and 8; Council Regulations No 765/2006, Arts 3 and 8(a)(4), and 2021/997)
(see paragraphs 75-84, 89)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Mr Aleksandr Omeliyanyuk to bear, in addition to his own costs, those incurred by the Council of the European Union.
(
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)	OJ C 11, 10.1.2022.