Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 26 October 2022 –KD v EUIPO
(Case T‑298/20) (1)
(Civil service – Members of the temporary staff – 2019 Appraisal exercise – Appraisal report – Pre-litigation procedure – Admissibility – Obligation to state reasons – Rights of the defence – Duty of care – Liability – Non-material damage)
1.      Actions brought by officials – Staff report – Prior administrative complaint – Optional – No obligation to exhaust specific internal procedures established by general implementing provisions
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Arts 47 and 52(1); Staff Regulations of Officials, Arts 43, 90, 91 and 110; Conditions of Employment of Other Servants, Art. 15(2))
(see paragraphs 22-30)
2.      Officials – Reports procedure – Appraisal report – Obligation to state reasons – Scope
(Art. 296 TFEU; Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(2)(c); Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 43)
(see paragraphs 44-49, 58, 76, 77)
3.      Officials – Reports procedure – Appraisal report – Discretion of assessors – Judicial review – Limits – Manifest error of assessment – Burden of proof
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 43)
(see paragraphs 94-97)
4.      Officials – Duty of the administration to have regard for the welfare of officials – Scope – Greater obligation in a case affecting the health of the official
(see paragraphs 115, 121)
5.      Actions brought by officials – Actions for damages – Annulment of the unlawful measure in dispute – Whether appropriate reparation for non-material damage
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 91)
(see paragraphs 152, 153)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Annuls KD’s appraisal report in respect of the 2019 appraisal exercise;
2.
Dismisses the action as to the remainder;
3.
Orders the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), in addition to bearing its own costs, to pay three quarters of the costs incurred by KD;
4.
Orders KD to pay a quarter of her own costs.
1 OJ C 262, 10.8.2020.