62023TJ1108_INF
Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 2 April 2025 –Pumpyanskaya v Council
(Case T‑1108/23)
(Common foreign and security policy – Restrictive measures adopted in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine – Freezing of funds – List of persons, entities and bodies subject to the freezing of funds and economic resources – Maintenance of the applicant’s name on the lists – Article 2(1), in fine, of Decision 2014/145/CFSP – Concept of ‘benefit received from a leading businessperson operating in Russia’ – Article 2(1)(g) of Decision 2014/145 – Article 3(1)(g) of Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 – Error of assessment)
1.
European Union – Judicial review of the legality of the acts of the institutions – Restrictive measures adopted in view of the situation in Ukraine – Scope of the review – Proof that the measure is well founded – Obligation on the competent EU authority to establish, in the event of challenge, that the reasons relied on against the persons or entities concerned are well founded – Inclusion on the lists based on a specific, precise and consistent body of evidence – No such evidence – Error of assessment
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 47; Council Decision 2014/145/CFSP, as amended by Decisions (CFSP) 2023/1767, (CFSP) 2024/847 and (CFSP) 2024/2456; Council Regulations No 269/2014, 2023/1765, 2024/849 and 2024/2455)
(see paragraphs 29-32, 47-55)
2.
Common foreign and security policy – Restrictive measures adopted in view of the situation in Ukraine – Criteria for adopting restrictive measures – Leading businesspersons operating in Russia and their immediate family members or other natural persons benefiting from them – Judgment annulling the restrictive measures in respect of a leading businessperson – Scope – Annulment of restrictive measures in respect of their immediate family members
(Council Decision 2014/145/CFSP, as amended by Decisions (CFSP) 2023/1094, (CFSP) 2023/1767, (CFSP) 2024/847 and (CFSP) 2024/2456, Art. 2(1)(g); Council Regulations No 269/2014, Art. 3(1)(g), 2023/1089, 2023/1765, 2024/849 and 2024/2455)
(see paragraphs 38, 42-44, operative part 1)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Annuls Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/1767 of 13 September 2023 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1765 of 13 September 2023 implementing Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/847 of 12 March 2024 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/849 of 12 March 2024 implementing Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2456 of 12 September 2024 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, and Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2455 of 12 September 2024 implementing Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, in so far as the name of Ms Galina Evgenyevna Pumpyanskaya was maintained on the list of persons, entities and bodies to which those restrictive measures apply;
2.
Orders the Council of the European Union to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by Ms Galina Evgenyevna Pumpyanskaya.