62020TJ0536_INF
Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 2 February 2022 –LU v EIB
(Case T‑536/20) (
1
)
(Civil service – EIB staff – Dignity at Work Policy – Psychological harassment – Investigation procedure – Action for annulment – Final report of the investigation panel – Preparatory act – Inadmissibility – Decision rejecting the complaint – Act adversely affecting an official – Admissibility – Article 41 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights – Rights of the defence – Right to be heard – Obligation to state reasons – Liability)
1.
Actions brought by officials – Staff of the European Investment Bank – Act adversely affecting an official – Concept – Preparatory act – Not included
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Arts 90 and 91)
(see paras 36-40)
2.
Actions brought by officials – Jurisdiction of the EU judicature – Annulment of a hypothetical act which has not yet been adopted – Not included
(Art. 270 TFEU; Statute of the Court of Justice, Art. 50a)
(see paras 42-44)
3.
Officials – Staff of the European Investment Bank – Internal inquiry into alleged psychological harassment – Forwarding recommendations to the President of the Bank – Obligation to hear the complainant beforehand – Scope – Refusal to provide an anonymised summary of witness statements – Inability of the complainant to effectively submit observations prior to the President’s decision – Infringement of the right to be heard
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(2)(b); Staff Regulations of Officials, Arts 12a and 24)
(see paras 54-61)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Annuls the decision of the President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) of 26 May 2020 rejecting the harassment complaint made by LU;
2.
Dismisses the action as to the remainder;
3.
Orders the EIB to pay the costs.
(
1
)	OJ C 399, 23.11.2020.