62019TJ0032_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 14 July 2021 –Harrington Padrón v Council
(Case T‑32/19)
(Common foreign and security policy – Restrictive measures taken in view of the situation in Venezuela – Freezing of funds – Lists of persons, entities and bodies subject to the freezing of funds and economic resources – Retention of the applicant’s name on the lists – Error of assessment)
1.
Action for annulment – Natural or legal persons – Measures of direct and individual concern to them – Restrictive measures taken in view of the situation in Venezuela – Regulation reviewing the list of persons, groups or entities concerned without repealing the earlier regulation – Action brought by a person who was not mentioned in that regulation – Admissibility
(Art. 263 TFEU; Council Decision 2018/1656; Council Regulations No 2017/2063 and No 2018/1653)
(see paras 35-37)
2.
European Union – Judicial review of the legality of the acts of the institutions – Restrictive measures taken in view of the situation in Venezuela – 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 grounds held against the persons or entities concerned are well founded
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 47; Council Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074, as amended by Decision (CFSP) 2018/1656, Annex I; Council Regulations No 2017/2063, Annex IV and No 2018/1653)
(see paras 44-47, 49)
3.
Common foreign and security policy – Restrictive measures taken in view of the situation in Venezuela – Freezing of funds of persons responsible for serious violations of human rights or undermining the rule of law – Criteria – Roles conferring responsibility for undermining democracy or the rule of law – Council’s obligation to carry out an updated assessment in the course of the review of the restrictive measures – Evidence to the contrary – Position in respect of disassociation from the regime – None – Error of assessment – Absence
(Council Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074, as amended by Decision (CFSP) 2018/1656, Annex I; Council Regulations No 2017/2063, Annex IV, and No 2018/1653)
(see paras 53, 55-59, 64, 66, 67)
Re:
Application based on Article 263 TFEU and seeking the annulment of Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/1656 of 6 November 2018 amending Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela (OJ 2018 L 276, p. 10), and of Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1653 of 6 November 2018 implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2063 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela (OJ 2018 L 276, p. 1), in so far as those acts concern the applicant.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Ms Katherine Nayarith Harrington Padrón to pay the costs.