62018TJ0667_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 28 November 2019 –Pinto Teixeira v EEAS
(Case T‑667/18)
(Civil service — Rights and obligations of officials — Declaration of intention to engage in an occupational activity after leaving the service — Article 16 of the Staff Regulations — Risk of incompatibility with the legitimate interests of the institution — Deadline for responding to the declaration of intention — Implicit acceptance — Prohibition on engaging in an occupational activity after leaving the service — Non-material damage)
1.
Actions brought by officials — Interest in bringing proceedings — Need for a vested and present interest — Assessment at the time when the action was brought — Action capable of securing a benefit for the applicant
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Arts 90 and 91)
(see para. 18)
2.
Officials — Rights and obligations — Declaration of intention to engage in an occupational activity after leaving the service — Adoption of a decision by the administration — Time limit — Exceeded — Consequences — Implicit acceptance — Annulment of the decision adopted out of time
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 16)
(see paras 30-36)
3.
Officials — Rights and obligations — Engaging in an occupational activity after leaving the service — Limits — Compatibility with the legitimate interests of the institution — Discretion of the administration
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 16)
(see paras 44, 45, 49)
4.
Officials — Non-contractual liability of the institutions — Conditions — Unlawfulness — Damage — Causal link — Cumulative conditions — One of those conditions not met — Claim for compensation dismissed in its entirety
(Art. 340, second para. TFEU)
(see para. 68)
5.
Officials — Non-contractual liability of the institutions — Conditions — Causal link — Burden of proof
(Art. 340, second para. TFEU)
(see para. 72)
Re:
Action based on Article 270 TFEU seeking, first, annulment of the decision of the EEAS of 21 February 2018 prohibiting the applicant from engaging in an outside activity pursuant to Article 16 of the Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union and, secondly, compensation for the damage that the applicant claims to have suffered as a result of that decision.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
The decision of the European External Action Service (EEAS) of 21 February 2018 prohibiting Mr José Manuel Pinto Teixeira from engaging in an outside activity, pursuant to Article 16 of the Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union, is annulled;
2.
The action is dismissed as to the remainder;
3.
Each party shall pay its own costs.