Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 27 June 2019 –Szegedi v Parliament
(Case T‑135/18)
(Law governing the institutions — Rules governing the payment of expenses and allowances to Members of the European Parliament — Travel expenses — Parliamentary assistance expenses — Recovery of sums unduly paid — Rights of defence — Disclosure of evidence — Obligation to state reasons — Error of fact — Proportionality)
1.      Judicial proceedings — Application initiating proceedings — Formal requirements — Brief summary of the pleas in law on which the application is based
(Statute of the Court of Justice, Arts 21, 1st para. and 53, 1st para.; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 76(d))
(see para. 18)
2.      Acts of the institutions — Statement of reasons — Obligation — Scope
(Art. 296, 2nd para. TFEU)
(see para. 31)
3.      EU law — Principles — Rights of defence — Right to be heard — Scope
(see paras 40, 48)
4.      European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) — Investigations — Final investigation report and recommendations — Obligation to transmit that information to the person concerned — None
(European Parliament and Council Regulation No 883/2013, Arts 10(2) and 11(4))
(see paras 43, 44)
5.      European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) — Investigations — Rights of defence — Scope — Right of access to the inquiry file — None save where intended to adopt a measure adversely affecting the person concerned
(European Parliament and Council Regulation No 883/2013)
(see para. 45)
6.      European Parliament — Members — Payment of expenses and allowances — Travel expenses — Review relating to the reimbursement of travel expenses — Failure to provide the applicant with evidence relating to travel expenses — Rights of defence — Infringement
(Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament concerning implementing measures for the Statute of Members of the European Parliament, Arts 13 and 68)
(see paras 52-54)
7.      European Parliament — Members — Payment of expenses and allowances — Parliamentary assistance allowances — Check relating to the use of parliamentary assistance costs — Burden of proof
(Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament concerning implementing measures for the Statute of Members of the European Parliament, Arts 33 and 68(1))
(see paras 68-73)
8.      European Parliament — Rules on costs and indemnities of MEPs — Recovery of sums unduly paid — Amount to be recovered — Parliament’s lack of discretion — Claim by the Member concerned of infringement of the principle of proportionality — Rejection
(Art. 5(4) TEU; Decision of the Bureau of the European Parliament concerning implementing measures for the Statute of Members of the European Parliament, Art. 68(1))
(see paras 87-90)
Re:
Application based on Article 263 TFEU seeking annulment of the decision of the Secretary-General of the Parliament of 30 November 2017 relating to the recovery from the applicant of the sum of EUR 264 196.11 unduly paid in respect of travel expenses and parliamentary assistance expenses and the related debit note of19 December 2017.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Annuls the decision of the Secretary-General of the Parliament of30 November 2017 relating to the recovery from Mr Csanád Szegedi of the sum of EUR 264 196.11 and the related debit note of 19 December 2017 in so far as they relate to sums paid in respect of travel expenses in the sum ofEUR 8 273.83;
2.
Dismisses the action as to the remainder;
3.
Orders Mr Szegedi and the European Parliament each to bear their own costs.