Order of the General Court (First Chamber) of 14 April 2014 –Manufacturing Support & Procurement Kala Naft v Council
(Case T‑263/12)
Common foreign and security policy — Restrictive measures against Iran with the aim of preventing nuclear proliferation — Freezing of funds — Res judicata — Obligation to state reasons — Obligation of individual communication — Rights of the defence — Right to effective judicial protection — Right to property — Proportionality — Competence of the Council — Misuse of powers — Error of law — Definition of support given to nuclear proliferation — Error of assessment — Action manifestly lacking any foundation in law
1.                     EU law — Fundamental rights — Scope ratione personae — Legal persons constituting emanations of non-member States — Included — Responsibility of the non-member State for compliance with fundamental rights in its own territory — Irrelevant (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union) (see paras 27-32)
2.                     Judicial proceedings — Res judicata — Scope (see paras 36, 37)
3.                     Common foreign and security policy — Restrictive measures against Iran — Legal basis — Restrictive measures laid down by a decision adopted on the basis of Article 215 TFEU — Power of the Council to adopt independent fund-freezing restrictive measures, distinct from those recommended by the UN Security Council (Art. 215 TFEU; Council Regulation No 267/2012) (see paras 59, 60)
4.                     Common foreign and security policy — Restrictive measures against Iran — Freezing of funds of persons, entities or bodies engaged in or supporting nuclear proliferation — Support for Iran’s nuclear activities posing a risk of proliferation — Concept — Marketing of essential equipment and technology intended for the gas and oil industry — Inclusion (Council Regulation No 267/2012, Art. 23(2)(a); Council Decision 2010/413/CFSP) (see paras 69, 75)
Re:
APPLICATION for the partial annulment of Council Regulation (EU) No 267/2012 of 23 March 2012 concerning restrictive measures against Iran and repealing Regulation (EU) No 961/2010 (OJ 2012 L 88, p. 1).
Operative part
1.
The action is dismissed as manifestly lacking any foundation in law.
2.
In addition to bearing its own costs, Manufacturing Support & Procurement Kala Naft Co., Tehran is ordered to pay the costs incurred by the Council of the European Union.
3.
The European Commission is ordered to pay its own costs.