62020TO0208_INF
Order of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 19 October 2021 –JH v Europol
(Case T‑208/20)
(Action for damages – Civil service – Temporary staff – Europol – Probative value of the evidence – No act adversely affecting the applicant – Irregular nature of the pre-litigation procedure – Inadmissibility)
1.
Judicial proceedings – Absolute bar to proceeding – To be considered of the Court’s own motion – Decision taken by way of reasoned order
(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 129)
(see paras 25, 26)
2.
Actions brought by officials – Act adversely affecting an official – Concept – Instructions to relieve a member of the temporary staff of his or her duties – Presumption that there is no act adversely affecting an official arising from the statement to that effect of the institution concerned – Simple presumption rebuttable on the basis of relevant and consistent evidence
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Arts 90 and 91)
(see paras 34-36)
3.
Judicial proceedings – Proof – Documentary evidence – Probative value – Assessment by the EU judicature – Criteria
(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 85)
(see paras 40, 41, 68)
4.
Judicial proceedings – Time limit for producing evidence – Article 85(2) of the Rules of Procedure of the General Court – Scope
(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Arts 85(1) and (2) and 92(7))
(see paras 46, 47)
5.
Actions brought by officials – Act adversely affecting an official – Concept – Decision to assign the duties of an official or other servant during his or her sick leave to another member of staff – Not included
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 90(2))
(see paras 57, 58)
6.
Actions brought by officials – Act adversely affecting an official – Concept – Note from the administration informing the person concerned of its intention to reassign that person in the future – Not included
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 90(2))
(see paras 59, 60)
7.
Actions brought by officials – Action for damages brought without a pre-litigation procedure in accordance with the Staff Regulations – Inadmissibility
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Arts 90 and 91)
(see paras 73-75)
Re:
Application under Article 270 TFEU for compensation in respect of the harm allegedly suffered by the applicant as a result of, first, Europol’s order of 2 April 2019 to relieve him from office with immediate effect and, second, the failure to investigate a complaint against him in accordance with the applicable provisions.
Operative part
1.
The action is dismissed as inadmissible.
2.
JH shall pay the costs.