62017TJ0617(01)_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 21 December 2022 –Vialto Consulting v Commission
(Case T‑617/17 RENV)
(Non-contractual liability – Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance – Investigation by OLAF – On-site inspection – Irregularities and failures allegedly committed by the Commission – Right to be heard – Non-material damage – Causal link)
1.
Judicial proceedings – Judgment of the Court of Justice binding the General Court – Conditions – Reference back following an appeal – Points of law finally determined by the Court of Justice in the context of the appeal – Res judicata – Scope
(Statute of the Court of Justice, Art. 61; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 215)
(see paragraph 38)
2.
Non-contractual liability – Conditions – Unlawfulness – Damage – Causal link – One of the conditions not satisfied – Action for damages dismissed in its entirety
(Art. 340, second para., TFEU)
(see paragraph 41)
3.
Non-contractual liability – Conditions – Actual and certain damage – Burden of proof
(Art. 340, second para., TFEU)
(see paragraph 42)
4.
Non-contractual liability – Conditions – Unlawfulness – Damage – Causal link – Concept – Burden of proof
(Art. 340, second para., TFEU)
(see paragraphs 43, 51, 55, 56)
5.
Non-contractual liability – Conditions – Unlawfulness – Damage – Causal link – Cumulative conditions – Obligation on the court to examine in a given order – None
(Art. 340, second para., TFEU)
(see paragraph 44)
6.
Non-contractual liability – Conditions – Causal link – Plurality of causes of damage – Application of theories of adequate causation and of equivalence of conditions
(Art. 340, second para., TFEU)
(see paragraphs 52-54)
7.
Non-contractual liability – Damage – Damage for which compensation is available – Non-material damage corresponding to damage to the image or to the reputation of a legal person – Included
(Arts 268 and 340, second para., TFEU)
(see paragraph 74)
8.
Judicial proceedings – Application initiating proceedings – Formal requirements – Identification of the subject matter of the dispute – Summary of the pleas in law on which the application is based – Action seeking compensation for loss caused by an EU institution – Application for compensation for non-pecuniary damage – Minimum requirements
(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 76(d))
(see paragraph 100)
9.
Non-contractual liability – Damage – Compensation – Default interest – Rules for calculation
(Art. 340, second para., TFEU)
(see paragraphs 108, 109)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Orders the European Commission to pay Vialto Consulting Kft. compensation of EUR 5000 in respect of the non-material damage suffered;
2.
Orders that the compensation to be paid to Vialto Consulting be paid with default interest, as from the delivery of the present judgment to full payment of that compensation, at the rate set by the European Central Bank (ECB) for main refinancing operations, increased by two percentage points;
3.
Orders the Commission to pay the costs of the appeal proceedings before the Court of Justice in Case C‑650/19 P, the costs of the initial proceedings in Case T‑617/17 and the costs of the renvoi proceedings in Case T‑617/17 RENV before the General Court.