62022TO0125_INF
Order of the President of the General Court of 30 March 2022 –RT France v Council
(Case T‑125/22 R)
(Interim relief – Common foreign and security policy – Restrictive measures taken in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine – Suspension of the broadcasting activities of certain media – Application for suspension of operation of a measure – No urgency – Weighing of competing interests)
1.
Interim relief – Suspension of operation of a measure – Interim measures – Conditions for granting – Prima facie case – Urgency – Serious and irreparable harm – Cumulative nature – Balancing of all the interests involved – Order of examination and method of verification – Discretion of the court hearing the application for interim relief
(Arts 256(1), 278 and 279 TFEU; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 156(4))
(see paras 19-22)
2.
Interim relief – Suspension of operation of a measure – Interim measures – Conditions for granting – Urgency – Serious and irreparable harm – Burden of proof – Financial loss – Obligation to provide concrete and precise indications, supported by detailed documentary evidence – Need to provide a true overall picture of the financial situation
(Arts 268 and 340 TFEU; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 156(4))
(see paras 25, 26, 33-38)
3.
Interim relief – Suspension of operation of a measure – Conditions for granting – Urgency – Damage to the applicant’s reputation – Non-material damage not capable of being better remedied at the interim stage than in the main proceedings – None
(Arts 278 and 279 TFEU; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 156(4))
(see para. 48)
4.
Interim relief – Suspension of operation of a measure – Conditions for granting – Serious and irreparable harm – Causal link between the alleged damage and the contested act
(Arts 278 and 279 TFEU; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 156(4))
(see para. 49)
5.
Interim relief – Suspension of operation of a measure – Interim measures – Conditions for granting – Serious and irreparable harm – Risk of fundamental rights being undermined – Risk not in itself constituting serious damage
(Arts 278 and 279 TFEU; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 156(4))
(see para. 52)
6.
Interim relief – Suspension of operation of a measure – Interim measures – Conditions for granting – Urgency – Serious and irreparable harm – Burden of proof borne by the party seeking the interim measure
(Arts 278 and 279 TFEU; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 156(4))
(see para. 54)
7.
Interim relief – Suspension of operation of a measure – Conditions for granting – Balancing of all the interests involved – Decision to suspend the broadcasting activities of certain media in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine – Interests pursued by the Council prevailing over the financial interests of the applicant
(Art. 3(1) and (5) TEU; Art. 278 TFEU; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Arts 151(2) and 156(4))
(see paras 59-66)
Operative part
1.
The application for interim relief is dismissed.
2.
There is no longer any need to adjudicate on the applications for leave to intervene submitted by the European Commission, the Kingdom of Belgium, the French Republic and the Republic of Poland.
3.
The costs are reserved save for those incurred by the European Commission, the Kingdom of Belgium, the French Republic and the Republic of Poland. Those parties shall bear the costs in the context of their application for leave to intervene.