62024TJ0009_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Tenth Chamber) of 14 May 2025 –Zardini v Commission
(Case T‑9/24)
(Civil Service – Officials – Recruitment – Open competition EPSO/AD/371/19 – Decision not to place the applicant’s name on the reserve list – Rules on languages – Plea of illegality – Equal treatment – Obligation to state reasons – Legitimate expectations)
1.
Actions brought by officials – Plea of illegality – Measures the illegality of which may be pleaded – Notice of competition – Rules on languages – Admissibility – Conditions – Direct legal link between the contested act and the notice of competition in question – Scope – Need to demonstrate the possibility of obtaining a higher score in the tests in the absence of a language restriction
(Arts 266, 270 and 277 TFEU; Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 28(f))
(see paragraphs 46-52, 58-61)
2.
Officials – Competitions – Obligation on EU institutions to assure all candidates a smooth and regular running of the tests – Infringement – Relevance to the legality of the tests – Conditions – Burden of proof
(see paragraphs 74, 75)
3.
Officials – Competitions – Arrangements for and content of tests – Observance of the principle of equal treatment – Burden of proof –Reorganisation of the tests in a competition following an annulment judgment by the Courts of the European Union – Differences between the new and old tests in terms of difficulty and organisational arrangements – Breach of the principle of equal treatment – None
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 1d(6))
(see paragraphs 90-94, 97-99, 103)
4.
Officials – Competitions – Selection board – Decision not to include a candidate on the reserve list – Obligation to state reasons – Scope – Observance of the secrecy of proceedings – Statement of reasons limited to communicating the scores obtained in the various tests at the assessment centre and the selection board’s comments – Whether permissible
(Art. 296 TFEU; Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 25, second para., and Annex III, Art. 6)
(see paragraphs 120-127)
5.
Officials – Competitions – Selection board – Composition – Sufficient stability to ensure consistent grading of candidates – Scope
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 27 and Annex III, Art. 3)
(see paragraphs 144-156)
6.
Officials – Competitions – Selection board – Drawing up of the reserve list – Number of candidates to be included – Rule recommending drawing up a list containing at least twice as many successful candidates as the number of posts to be filled – Binding on the Selection Board – None
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Annex III, Art. 5, fifth para.)
(see paragraphs 158, 159)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders the parties to each bear their own costs.