Order of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 6 June 2019 –Czarnecki v Parliament
(Case T‑230/18)
(Law governing the institutions — Member of the European Parliament — Statements made against another Member of Parliament — Early termination of the term of office and duties of the Vice-President of the Parliament — Rights of the defence — Misuse of powers — Equal treatment)
1.      European Parliament — Members — Decision to terminate the mandate and functions of the Vice-Chairperson early — Decision adopted without debate in plenary session — Procedural safeguards — Submission of observations by the Vice-President concerned to the Conference of Presidents — Infringement of the right to be heard — None
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 48; Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament, Art. 21)
(see paras 35-38)
2.      Action for annulment — Pleas in law — Misuse of powers — Concept
(Art. 263 TFEU)
(see para. 54)
3.      European Parliament — Members — Decision to terminate the term of office and duties of the Vice-President — Absence of evidence of the existence of the pursuit of other purposes by that decision than those specified — Misuse of powers — None (Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament, Art. 21)
(see para. 55)
4.      European Parliament — Fumus persecutionis — Scope — Procedure for early termination of the term of office and duties of the Vice-President — Not included
(Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament, Art. 21)
(see para. 56)
5.      EU law — Principles — Equal treatment — Limits — Advantage unlawfully granted
(see para. 60)
6.      European Parliament — Members — Decision to terminate the term of office and duties of the Vice-President — Principles of the protection of legitimate expectations and legal certainty — Infringement — None
(Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament, Art. 21)
(see paras 67-73)
Re:
Application pursuant to Article 263 TFEU seeking annulment of the decision of the Parliament of 7 February 2018 prematurely bringing to an end the applicant’s term of office as Vice-President of the Parliament.
Operative part
1.
The action is dismissed.
2.
Ryszard Czarnecki is ordered to pay the costs, including those relating to the interlocutory proceedings.