62024CO0109_INF
Order of the Court (Seventh Chamber) of 3 September 2024 –Van Oosterwijck v Commission
(Case C‑109/24 P)
(Appeal – Article 181 of the Rules of Procedure of the Court of Justice – Civil service – Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union – Officials – Surviving spouse – Survivor’s pension – Eligibility conditions – Duration of the marriage – Article 20 of Annex VIII to the Staff Regulations – Plea of illegality – Equal treatment – Appeal manifestly unfounded)
1.
Officials – Pensions – Survivor’s pension – Conditions for granting – Differentiated application according to the date on which the marriage was entered into, before or after termination of the service of the deceased official – Comparable nature of the two situations in the light of the subject matter and purpose of survivor’s pensions and of the common condition of the legal link between the spouses
(Staff Regulations of Officials, Annex VIII, Arts 19 and 20)
(see paragraphs 4(10), 5)
2.
Officials – Pensions – Survivor’s pension – Conditions for granting – Minimum duration of marriage – Different treatment of the surviving spouses according to the date on which the marriage was entered into, before or after termination of the service of the deceased official – Limitation on the right to equal treatment and to non-discrimination on grounds of age – Justification – Combating fraud – Whether permissible – Review of proportionality
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Arts 20 and 52(1); Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 78(1) and Annex VIII, Arts 19 and 20)
(see paragraphs 4(11-23), 5)
3.
Officials – Pensions – Survivor’s pension – Conditions for granting – Minimum duration of marriage – Different treatment of the surviving spouses according to the date on which the marriage was entered into, before or after termination of the service of the deceased official – Broad discretion of the EU legislature – Observance of the principle of proportionality – Judicial review – Limits – Examination by the EU Courts of whether the differentiation is appropriate and necessary – Not permissible
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Arts 20 and 52(1); Staff Regulations of Officials, Annex VIII, Arts 19 and 20)
(see paragraphs 4(18-23), 5)
4.
Officials – Equal treatment – Survivor’s pension – Cohabitation and marriage – Non-comparable situations
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art 21(1); Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 1d(1) and Annex VIII, Art. 20)
(see paragraphs 4(24,25), 5)
5.
Officials – Pensions – Survivor’s pension – Conditions for granting – Minimum duration of marriage – Assessment in the light of national law – Precluded
(Art. 270 TFUE ; Staff Regulations of Officials, Annex VIII, Art. 20)
(see paragraphs 4(30-36), 5)
Operative part
1.
The appeal is dismissed as manifestly unfounded.
2.
Ms Viviane Van Oosterwijck shall bear her own costs.