62019TJ0867_INF
Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 16 June 2021 –RA v Court of Auditors
(Case T‑867/19)
(Civil service – Officials – Promotion – 2016 promotion exercise – Decision not to promote the applicant to grade AD 11 – Absence of staff report – Comparison of merits – Compliance with a judgment of the General Court – Adoption of a new decision not to promote – Obligation to state reasons – Article 45 of the Staff Regulations – Manifest error of assessment)
1.
Actions brought by officials – Prior administrative complaint – Rejection decision – Account taken of the reasoning therein
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Arts 90 and 91)
(see para. 15)
2.
Judicial proceedings – Introduction of new pleas during the proceedings – Amplification of a plea made earlier – Admissibility
(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 84(1))
(see para. 18)
3.
Actions brought by officials – Pleas in law – Inadequate statement of reasons – Finding made by the Court of its own motion
(see para. 23)
4.
Officials – Promotion – Complaint by a candidate not promoted – Rejection decision – Obligation to state reasons – Scope – Inadequate statement of reasons – Regularisation during the proceedings – Conditions
(Art. 296 TFEU; Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(2)(c); Staff Regulations of Officials, Arts 25, second para., 45 and 90(2))
(see paras 25-27)
5.
Officials – Promotion – Consideration of comparative merits – Procedures – Administration’s discretion – Limits – Respect for the principle of equal treatment – Judicial review – Limits – Manifest error of assessment – Meaning
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 45)
(see paras 48-52, 54, 59, 64)
6.
Officials – Promotion – Consideration of comparative merits – Administration’s discretion – Evidence capable of being taken into consideration – Languages exercised in the performance of the duties – Assessment in the light of the advantage afforded to the official concerned due to the use of languages in the context of his duties compared to all of the officials eligible for promotion – Whether permissible
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 45)
(see paras 60, 61, 92)
7.
Officials – Promotion – Candidates eligible for promotion – Right to promotion – None
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 45)
(see para. 81)
8.
Officials – Promotion – Criteria – Merits – Taking into account of the level of responsibilities exercised – Scope
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 45)
(see para. 102)
9.
Officials – Non-contractual liability of the institutions – Conditions – Unlawfulness – Damage – Causal link – Cumulative conditions
(Art. 340, second para., TFEU)
(see paras 140, 141)
Re:
Application under Article 270 TFEU seeking, first, annulment of the decision of 27 February 2019 by which the Court of Auditors decided not to promote the applicant to Grade AD 11 and, second, compensation for the damage which the applicant allegedly suffered as a result of that decision.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders RA to pay the costs.