62019TJ0586_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 16 June 2021 –PL v Commission
(Case T‑586/19)
(Civil service – Officials – Career development report – 2017 assessment exercise – Appointment of the assessor – Article 22a of the Staff Regulations – General implementing provisions for Article 43 of the Staff Regulations – Duty to have regard for the welfare of officials – Reasonable time – Principle of impartiality – Article 41 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights – Obligation to state reasons – Article 26 of the Staff Regulations – Rights of the defence)
1.
Officials – Reports procedure – Appraisal report – Discretion of assessors – Obligation to comply strictly with the rules governing the organisation of the appraisal procedure – Judicial review – Limits
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 43)
(see paras 60-62)
2.
Officials – Rights and obligations – Freedom of expression – Disclosure of facts giving rise to a presumption of the existence of illegal activity or serious failure to comply with obligations – Scope of the obligation – Protection of the official who communicated such facts – Limits – Protection against decisions taken in response to the accusations made
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 22a(3))
(see paras 67, 68)
3.
Officials – Reports procedure – Appraisal report – Drawing up – System established by the Commission – Referral to the appeal assessor – Opinion of the Director-General of human resources – Obligation for that director to consult beforehand the official being assessed – None
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 43)
(see paras 75, 89)
4.
Fundamental rights – Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union – Right to sound administration – Requirement of impartiality – Concept – Presumption until proof to the contrary is adduced
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(1))
(see paras 107, 110)
5.
Officials – Reports procedure – Appraisal report – Assessment of an official’s efficiency – Inclusion of references to legitimate absences – Limits
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 43)
(see paras 139, 140)
6.
Officials – Decision affecting the administrative status of an official – Taking into account of factual matters not on the personal file, but which had been brought to the official’s attention before the decision was made – Legality – Conditions
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 26)
(see paras 148, 149, 152, 153)
7.
Officials – Personal file – Documents required to be placed on the file – Decision affecting the administrative status of an official – Concept – Document recording factual elements concerning the behaviour of the official and used for the adoption of a decision affecting him or her – Included
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 26)
(see para. 150)
Re:
Application under Article 270 TFEU seeking annulment of the Commission’s decision of 12 October 2018 establishing the applicant’s career development report in respect of 2017.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders PL to pay the costs.