62019TJ0130_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Fourth Chamber) of 10 February 2021 –Spadafora v Commission
(Case T‑130/19)
(Civil service – Officials – Vacancy notice – Post of head of unit – Rejection of application – Middle managers – Principle of impartiality – Responsibility)
1.
Acts of the institutions – Presumption of lawfulness – Information capable of calling legality of an act into question – Burden of proof
(Art. 288 TFEU)
(see paras 51, 52)
2.
EU institutions – Protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data – Regulation No 45/2001 – Processing of personal data – Collection of data in the context of a selection procedure for a vacant post in the European civil service – Whether permissible
(European Parliament and Council Regulation No 45/2001, Art. 5)
(see paras 54-57)
3.
Officials – Decision adversely affecting an official – Rejection of an application – Obligation to state reasons at the latest at the stage of rejection of the complaint
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 25, second para.)
(see para. 58)
4.
Officials – Vacancy – Consideration of the comparative merits of candidates – Administration’s discretion – Judicial review – Limits
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Arts 7 and 29)
(see paras 62, 63)
5.
Actions brought by officials – Judgment annulling a measure – Effects – Adoption of measures of compliance – Annulment, on the ground of procedural error, of a decision of appointment to a vacant post – Adoption of an identical act complying with the procedural rules – Whether permissible – Need to provide for retroactive effect to the appointment – None
(Art. 266 TFEU)
(see paras 82, 90, 91)
6.
Officials – Vacancy – Consideration of the comparative merits of candidates – Administration’s discretion – Resumption of the procedure following the annulment of the appointment decision by the Courts of the European Union – Taking into account of the experience and qualifications acquired by the candidates during the period between the two vacancy notices – Whether permissible
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Arts 7 and 29)
(see para. 93)
Re:
Application under Article 270 TFEU seeking, first, annulment of the decision of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) of 18 May 2018 appointing CC as head of the [confidential] unit of the [confidential] Directorate and, second, an order that the Commission pay compensation in respect of the material and non-material damage allegedly suffered by the applicant as a result of that decision.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Mr Sergio Spadafora to bear his own costs and pay those incurred by the European Commission and CC.