62019TJ0757_INF
Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 15 December 2021 –HB v EIB
(Case T‑757/19) (
1
)
(Civil service – Staff of the EIB – Complaint alleging psychological harassment – Administrative enquiry – Decision dismissing the complaint – Decision rejecting the request for conciliation – Right to be heard – Liability)
1.
Officials – Decision adversely affecting an official – Obligation to state reasons – Scope
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 25, second para.)
(see paras 68-70)
2.
Actions brought by officials – Pleas in law – Lack of or inadequate statement of reasons – Separate plea in law from the one concerning substantive legality
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 25, second para.)
(see para. 71)
3.
Officials – Principles – Rights of the defence – Obligation to hear the person concerned before adopting a measure adversely affecting him – Scope – Infringement – Consequences
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(2))
(see paras 79-82, 89-92)
4.
Officials – Staff of the European Investment Bank – Rights and obligations – Internal inquiry into alleged psychological harassment – Right of access of the complainant to records of hearings – Limits – Possibility for the administration to use anonymisation or produce a summary of the text
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(2))
(see paras 83, 87, 88)
5.
Officials – Staff of the European Investment Bank – Non-contractual liability – 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 paras 99, 101)
6.
Officials – Staff of the European Investment Bank – Non-contractual liability – Conditions – Compensation for loss caused to an official or member of staff – Duty of the administration to have regard for the welfare of officials – Scope
(Arts 268 and 340, second para., TFEU)
(see para. 100)
7.
Actions brought by officials – Staff of the European Investment Bank – Actions for damages – Annulment of the illegal act in dispute – Whether appropriate reparation for non-material damage – Limits
(Art. 340 TFEU)
(see para. 108)
8.
Actions brought by officials – Unlimited jurisdiction – Compensation for material harm associated with loss of opportunity – Assessment – Criteria
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 91(1))
(see paras 114, 115)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Annuls the decision of 20 June 2019 of the President of the European Investment Bank (EIB);
2.
Orders the EIB to pay HB the sum of EUR 1000 in respect of the loss of opportunity to settle the dispute amicably;
3.
Dismisses the action as to the remainder;
4.
Orders the EIB to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by HB.
(
1
)	OJ C 222, 6.7.2020.