Judgment of the General Court of 15 September 2021 — Ghaoud v Council

(Case T-700/19) (1)

(Common foreign and security policy - Restrictive measures taken in view of the situation in Libya - Freezing of funds - List of persons, entities and bodies subject to the freezing of funds and economic resources - Restrictions on entry into and transit through the territory of the European Union - List of persons subject to restrictions on entry into and transit through the territory of the European Union - Retention of the applicant’s name on the lists - Obligation to state reasons - Error of assessment - Death of the applicant)

(2021/C 452/21)

Language of the case: English

Parties

Applicant: Tareg Ghaoud, as heir of Abdel Majid Al-Gaoud (Dubai, United Arab Emirates) (represented by: S. Bafadhel, Barrister)

Defendant: Council of the European Union (represented by: P. Mahnič and V. Piessevaux, acting as Agents)

Re:

Application pursuant to Article 263 TFEU for annulment (i) of Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2019/1299 of 31 July 2019 implementing Decision (CFSP) 2015/1333 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya (OJ 2019 L 204, p. 44), and of Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2020/1137 of 30 July 2020 implementing Decision (CFSP) 2015/1333 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya (OJ 2020 L 247, p. 40), in so far as they maintain the name of Mr Abdel Majid Al-Gaoud on the lists in Annexes II and IV to Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/1333 of 31 July 2015 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya, and repealing Decision 2011/137/CFSP (OJ 2015 L 206, p. 34), and (ii) of Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1292 of 31 July 2019 implementing Article 21(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/44 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya (OJ 2019 L 204, p. 1), and of Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1130 of 30 July 2020 implementing Article 21(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/44 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya (OJ 2020 L 247, p. 14), in so far as they maintain the name of Mr Abdel Majid Al-Gaoud on the list in Annex III to Council Regulation (EU) 2016/44 of 18 January 2016 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya and repealing Regulation (EU) No 204/2011 (OJ 2016 L 12, p. 1).

Operative part of the judgment

The Court:

1. Annuls Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2019/1299 of 31 July 2019 implementing Decision (CFSP) 2015/1333 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya, and Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2020/1137 of 30 July 2020 implementing Decision (CFSP) 2015/1333 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya, in so far as they maintain the name of Mr Abdel Majid Al-Gaoud on the lists in Annexes II and IV to Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/1333 of 31 July 2015 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya and repealing Decision 2011/137/CFSP;

2. Annuls Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1292 of 31 July 2019 implementing Article 21(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/44 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya, and Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1130 of 30 July 2020 implementing Article 21(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/44 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya, in so far as they maintain the name of Mr Abdel Majid Al-Gaoud on the list in Annex III to Council Regulation (EU) 2016/44 of 18 January 2016 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya and repealing Regulation (EU) No 204/2011;

3. Orders the Council of the European Union to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by Mr Tareg Ghaoud, as heir of Mr Abdel Majid Al-Gaoud.

(1) OJ C 406, 2.12.2019.