Judgment of the Court (First Chamber) of 19 March 1964. - Robert Lepape v High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community. - Case 11-63.



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Summary

Parties

Subject of the case

Grounds

Decision on costs

Operative part



Keywords

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1 . OFFICIALS - REMOVAL EXPENSES - REIMBURSEMENT - CRITERIA

( STAFF REGULATIONS OF THE ECSC OF 1 JULY 1956, VERSION ADOPTED BY THE COMMITTEE OF CHAIRMEN ON 21 NOVEMBER 1960, ARTICLE 15 )

2 . OFFICIALS - MISSIONS - TRAVEL EXPENSES - METHOD OF REIMBURSEMENT - USE OF OWN CAR - CONDITIONS OF REIMBURSEMENT AT THE RATE PER KILOMETRE - STRICT REQUIREMENTS OF FORM AND OF SUBSTANCE - SCOPE OF THE ENTRY ' OWN CAR ' APPEARING IN THE TRAVEL ORDER - COMPETENCE TO DECIDE

( STAFF REGULATIONS OF THE ECSC OF 1 JULY 1956, ORIGINAL VERSION, ARTICLES 13(D ), 17(D ); THE SAME REGULATIONS, VERSION ADOPTED BY THE COMMITTEE OF CHAIRMEN ON 21 NOVEMBER 1960, ARTICLE 17(D ); STAFF REGULATIONS OF THE ECSC OF 1 JANUARY 1962, ANNEX VII, ARTICLE 12(4 ))

3 . OFFICIALS - MISSIONS - TRAVEL EXPENSES - METHOD OF REIMBURSEMENT - USE OF OWN CAR - CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH REIMBURSEMENT ON THE ORDINARY BASIS GIVES RISE TO ' DEFINITE DISADVANTAGES '

( STAFF REGULATIONS OF THE ECSC OF 1 JULY 1956, VERSION ADOPTED BY THE COMMITTEE OF CHAIRMEN ON 21 NOVEMBER 1960, ARTICLE 17(D ); STAFF REGULATIONS OF THE ECSC OF 1 JANUARY 1962, ANNEX VII, ARTICLE 12(4 ))

Summary

1 . AN OFFICIAL WHO HAS NOT SUBMITTED, PRIOR TO HIS REMOVAL, THE ESTIMATES REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 15 OF THE STAFF REGULATIONS IS ONLY ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT OF REMOVAL EXPENSES IF THE EVIDENCE SUBMITTED SUBSEQUENTLY MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR THE HIGH AUTHORITY TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER THE REMOVAL WHICH THE OFFICIAL CLAIMS TO HAVE UNDER - TAKEN HAS IN FACT TAKEN PLACE, WHAT SERVICES THE CARRIER HAS PERFORMED QUANTITATIVELY AND QUALITATIVELY AND WHETHER THE PRICE REQUIRED SEEMS REASONABLE HAVING REGARD TO THOSE SERVICES .

2 . ( A ) THE ENTRY ' OWN CAR ' INSERTED IN A TRAVEL ORDER ONLY ESTABLISHES THAT THERE IS NO OBJECTION TO AN OFFICIAL USING HIS OWN CAR . THE GRANT OF A RATE PER KILOMETRE PRESUPPOSES ON THE OTHER HAND THAT THE USE OF THAT MEANS OF TRANSPORT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS BEING IN THE INTEREST OF THE SERVICE .

( B ) VERY STRICT CONDITIONS OF FORM AND SUBSTANCE MUST BE IMPOSED FOR DECLARATIONS INTENDED TO ESTABLISH THE RIGHT ENTITLEMENT TO REIMBURSEMENT AT THE RATE PER KILOMETRE .

3 . ULTIMATELY, A DECISION WITH REGARD TO THE METHOD OF REIMBURSEMENT OF MISSION EXPENSES COMES UNDER THE GENERAL DEPARTMENTS OF THE ADMINISTRATION, AND NOT THE IMMEDIATE SUPERIOR OF AN OFFICIAL .

REIMBURSEMENT OF TRAVEL EXPENSES ON THE ORDINARY BASIS INVOLVES ' DEFINITE DISADVANATAGES ' WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 17(D ) OF THE STAFF REGULATIONS, WHEN IT PLAINLY CANNOT COVER THE EXPENSES ACTUALLY INCURRED BY THE PARTY CONCERNED, IN USING HIS OWN CAR .

Parties

IN CASE 11/63

ROBERT LEPAPE, AN INSPECTOR WITH THE HIGH AUTHORITY OF THE ECSC, RESIDING AT 74 RUE LEEMANS, BRUSSELS, ASSISTED BY JEAN DUVIEUSART OF THE CHARLEROI BAR, WITH AN ADDRESS FOR SERVICE IN LUXEMBOURG AT THE OFFICES OF MR JANSEN, HUISSER, 21 RUE ALDRINGER,

APPLICANT,

V

HIGH AUTHORITY OF THE EUROPEAN COAL AND STEEL COMMUNITY, REPRESENTED BY ITS LEGAL ADVISER, PIERRE LAMOUREUX, ACTING AS AGENT, ASSISTED BY CYR CAMBIER OF THE COUR D' APPEL, BRUSSELS, WITH AN ADDRESS FOR SERVICE IN LUXEMBOURG AT ITS OFFICES, 2 PLACE DE METZ,

DEFENDANT,

Subject of the case

APPLICATION FOR THE PAYMENT OF REMOVAL EXPENSES AND MISSION EXPENSES,

Grounds

P.67

I - REMOVAL EXPENSES

1 . UNDER THE TERMS OF THE FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD SENTENCES OF ARTICLE 15(A ) OF THE FORMER STAFF REGULATIONS OF THE ECSC OF 1 JULY 1956, IN THE VERSION ADOPTED BY THE COMMITTEE OF CHAIRMEN ON 21 NOVEMBER 1960, ' THE EXPENSES INCURRED IN RESPECT OF REMOVAL OF FURNITURE AND PERSONAL EFFECTS...SHALL BE REIMBURSED...TO OFFICIALS . SUCH REIMBURSEMENT SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF AN ESTIMATE APPROVED IN ADVANCE . NOT LESS THAN TWO ESTIMATES SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENT OF THE INSTITUTION '.

IT IS AGREED THAT THE APPLICANT DID NOT SUBMIT AN ESTIMATE IN ADVANCE, SO THAT IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO GIVE THE APPROVAL PROVIDED FOR IN THE PROVISION QUOTED ABOVE .

CONSEQUENTLY THE DISPUTE RAISES THE QUESTION WHETHER IN SUCH CASES THE OFFICIAL CONCERNED SIMPLY LOSES HIS RIGHTS .

2 . THE LITERAL INTERPRETATION OF THE PROVISION QUOTED ABOVE DOES NOT GIVE ANY DEFINITE ANSWER . ITS FIRST SENTENCE APPEARS TO ACCORD AN OFFICIAL AN UNCONDITIONAL RIGHT . ON THE OTHER HAND THE SECOND SENTENCE APPEARS TO EXCLUDE THAT RIGHT IN CASES WHERE THE OFFICIAL DOES NOT SUBMIT THE ESTIMATES IN ADVANCE . THEREFORE THE INTERPRETATION MUST BE BASED ON THE MEANING AND AIM OF THAT PROVISION .

ARTICLE 15 RESTS ON THE GENERAL PRINCIPLE THAT THE EMPLOYER IS BOUND TO REIMBURSE OFFICIALS FOR ALL EXPENSES WHICH THEY HAVE INCURRED IN THE INTEREST OF THE SERVICE, BUT MAY, IN RETURN, REQUIRE FROM OFFICIALS PROOF THAT THE EXPENSES WERE IN FACT NECESSARY AND WERE IN FACT INCURRED .

P.68

ACCORDING TO THIS PRINCIPLE, THE APPLICANT IS ONLY ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT OF REMOVAL EXPENSES IF THE EVIDENCE SUBMITTED SUBSEQUENTLY MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR THE HIGH AUTHORITY TO ASCERTAIN, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF GOOD ACCOUNTING, WHETHER THE REMOVAL WHICH THE OFFICIAL CLAIMS TO HAVE UNDERTAKEN HAS IN FACT TAKEN PLACE, WHAT SERVICES THE CARRIER HAS PERFORMED QUANTITATIVELY AND QUALITATIVELY ( VOLUME OF MATERIAL TO BE REMOVED, ETC .) AND WHETHER THE PRICE REQUIRED SEEMS REASONABLE HAVING REGARD TO THOSE SERVICES .

3 . BY LETTER OF 16 JUNE 1961, THE APPLICANT DECLARED TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE HIGH AUTHORITY, ' I HAVE REQUESTED WRITTEN CONFIRMATION OF THE QUOTATIONS SUBMITTED TO ME IN DECEMBER 1960 BY CARRIERS IN LUXEMBOURG AND BRUSSELS . AS YOU WILL SEE, I HAVE IN THE END TAKEN THE LOWEST ESTIMATE . THESE DOCUMENTS WILL BE SENT TO YOU AS SOON AS I RECEIVE THEM '.

HOWEVER, THE APPLICANT SUBSEQUENTLY PRODUCED ONLY THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS :

- AN INVOICE SUBMITTED BY A BELGIAN CARRIER, RECEIPTED ON 22 APRIL 1961, RELATING TO AN ESTIMATE WHICH THE APPLICANT HAS NOT PRODUCED; THE AMOUNT OF THIS INVOICE IS SHOWN IN SUMMARY FORM AND IT DOES NOT LIST THE ESSENTIAL DETAILS, SUCH AS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE AMOUNT OF FURNITURE, THE DISTANCE COVERED, ETC .;

- A LETTER FROM A CARRIER ESTABLISHED IN THE CITY OF LUXEMBOURG, CONTAINING AN ' ESTIMATE ' OF 2595 + 1460 + 13240 BELGIAN FRANCS; THIS LETTER IS DATED 30 MAY 1961, ALTHOUGH, ACCORDING TO INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY THE APPLICANT HIMSELF, THE REMOVAL HAD ALREADY TAKEN PLACE ON 22 APRIL 1961 .

CLEARLY, THESE DOCUMENTS DID NOT MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE HIGH AUTHORITY TO ARRIVE AT THE FINDINGS WHICH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES SET FORTH ABOVE, CONSTITUTE A CONDITION PRECEDENT TO ANY REIMBURSEMENT OF REMOVAL EXPENSES .

CONSEQUENTLY, THE APPLICANT'S CLAIM MUST BE DISMISSED .

II - MISSION EXPENSES

1 . GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

( A ) IN HIS WRITTEN REPLY TO THE QUESTIONS PUT BY THE COURT, AS WELL AS IN HIS STATEMENTS AT THE HEARING, THE APPLICANT DECLARED THAT HE CONCURRED IN RESTRICTING THE DISPUTE TO THE QUESTION WHETHER THE MISSION EXPENSES INCURRED FOR CERTAIN JOURNEYS ON MISSION, OR FOR PARTS OF JOURNEYS ON MISSION, MUST BE REIMBURSED ON THE BASIS OF THE RAIL FARE, OR IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RATE OF 3 BELGIAN FRANCS PER KILOMETRE COVERED BY PRIVATE MOTOR CAR (' RATE PER KILOMETRE ').

P.69

THERE ARE THEREFORE GROUNDS FOR PRESUMING THAT THE APPLICANT HAS FOREGONE THE PURSUIT OF HIS APPLICATION AS REGARDS THE DIFFERENCES ON OTHER POINTS .

( B ) IN THE OPINION OF THE APPLICANT, THE STATEMENT ' OWN CAR ' INSERTED IN HIS TRAVEL ORDERS IS SUFFICIENT BY ITSELF TO ENTITLE HIM TO THE RATE PER KILOMETRE .

AT THE PERIOD IN DISPUTE THE REIMBURSEMENT OF MISSION EXPENSES WAS GOVERNED UNDER THE STAFF REGULATIONS BY VARIOUS PROVISIONS ADOPTED SUCCESSIVELY, IN PARTICULAR BY ARTICLES 17(D ) AND 13(D ) OF THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF THE STAFF REGULATIONS OF THE ECSC OF 1 JULY 1956, ARTICLE 17(D ), ALREADY REFERRED TO, IN THE VERSION ADOPTED BY THE COMMITTEE OF CHAIRMEN ON 21 NOVEMBER 1960 AND ARTICLE 12(1 ) TO ( 4 ), OF ANNEX VII TO THE STAFF REGULATIONS OF OFFICIALS OF THE ECSC PRESENTLY IN FORCE .

ALL THESE PROVISIONS STATE, LITERALLY OR IN SUBSTANCE, THAT AN OFFICIAL ' MAY BE AUTHORIZED TO USE HIS OWN CAR ON A GIVEN MISSION PROVIDED THAT THE DURATION OF THE MISSION IS NOT THEREBY INCREASED ' AND THAT REIMBURSEMENT OF TRAVEL EXPENSES SHALL IN THAT CASE BE CALCULATED IN PRINCIPLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RAIL FARE AND ONLY IN EXCEPTIONAL CASES ON ANOTHER BASIS .

THEREFORE A CLEAR DISTINCTION MUST BE MADE BETWEEN AUTHORIZATION TO USE A PRIVATE CAR AND THE PAYMENT OF AN ALLOWANCE AT A RATE PER KILOMETRE .

WHILST THE ABOVE-MENTIONED AUTHORIZATION ONLY ESTABLISHES THAT THERE IS NO OBJECTION TO AN OFFICIAL USING HIS OWN CAR, THE GRANT OF A RATE PER KILOMETRE PRESUPPOSES ON THE OTHER HAND THAT THE USE OF THAT MEANS OF TRANSPORT MUST BE RECOGNIZED AS BEING IN THE INTEREST OF THE SERVICE .

MOREOVER, AS HAPPENED IN THIS CASE, THE TRAVEL ORDERS ARE IN PRACTICE FREQUENTLY ISSUED BY THE IMMEDIATE SUPERIOR OF THE OFFICIAL ENTRUSTED WITH A MISSION, SO THAT ULTIMATELY THE DECISION WITH REGARD TO THE REIMBURSEMENT OF MISSION EXPENSES COMES UNDER THE GENERAL DEPARTMENTS OF THE ADMINISTRATION, A PRACTICE NECESSARY TO AVOID DISCRIMINATION IN FAVOUR OF OR TO THE DETRIMENT OF CERTAIN OFFICIALS OR OF CERTAIN GROUPS OF OFFICIALS .

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOREGOING, IT MUST BE ADMITTED, AS A GENERAL RULE, THAT THE STATEMENTS ON TRAVEL ORDERS, INDICATING ' PRIVATE CAR ' AS A MEANS OF TRANSPORT, WITHOUT ESTABLISHING THAT THE USE OF THIS MEANS IS IN THE INTEREST OF THE SERVICE, MAY ONLY BE INTERPRETED AS A MERE AUTHORIZATION .

P.70

CONSEQUENTLY THE APPLICANT'S ARGUMENT IS UNFOUNDED, BUT A CHECK MUST BE MADE WITH REGARD TO EACH MISSION WHICH HAS GIVEN RISE TO DISPUTE AS TO WHETHER THE CONDITIONS IN FACT AND IN LAW FOR GRANTING A RATE PER KILOMETRE HAVE BEEN SATISFIED .

2 . EXAMINATION OF THE DIFFERENT MISSIONS

THE EXAMINATION OF THESE MISSIONS WILL BE BASED ON THE DETAILED INFORMATION APPEARING IN A STATEMENT OF THE MISSIONS IN QUESTION, WHICH IS DEALT WITH IN POINT ( A ) OF THE REPLY OF THE HIGH AUTHORITY OF 31 OCTOBER 1963 TO THE WRITTEN QUESTIONS OF THE COURT AND WHICH THE APPLICANT HAS NOT DISPUTED ( SEE BELOW : ' STATEMENT ').

ACCORDING TO THIS STATEMENT, THE MISSIONS WHICH MUST BE EXAMINED ARE THOSE APPEARING UNDER NOS 1, 5 TO 16, 18 AND 19, AND ANOTHER MISSION CARRIED OUT FROM 2 TO 6 OR 7 APRIL 1962 .

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE MISSIONS MENTIONED UNDER NOS 2, 3 AND 4 SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION AS THEY NO LONGER FORM PART OF THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE DISPUTE FOR THE REASONS SET OUT UNDER 1(A ) ABOVE .

THE SAME OBTAINS FOR MISSION NO 17, FOR WHICH THE SUM CLAIMED BY THE APPLICANT AND THAT TENDERED OR PAID BY THE HIGH AUTHORITY AGREE .

A - MISSIONS RELATING TO NUMBERS 1 AND 5 TO 9 OF THE STATEMENT ( CLAIM FOR 4615 BELGIAN FRANCS, REDUCED TO 4246 BELGIAN FRANCS IN THE REPLY )

( A ) THESE MISSIONS MUST BE EXAMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLES 17(D ) AND 13(D ) OF THE FORMER STAFF REGULATIONS OF THE ECSC, IN ITS ORIGINAL VERSION . THE LATTER PROVISION LAYS DOWN IN PARTICULAR : ' IF THE CALCULATIONS CANNOT BE EFFECTED ON THAT BASIS, A SPECIAL DECISION OF THE APPOINTING AUTHORITY SHALL FIX THE MEANS OF REIMBURSEMENT '.

THE ' OPINION ' OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE OF THE HIGH AUTHORITY OF 3 MAY 1957, APPROVED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE HIGH AUTHORITY, MAY BE CONSIDERED AS SUCH A SPECIAL DECISION .

THAT ' OPINION ' WHICH GOVERNS THE REIMBURSEMENT OF MISSION EXPENSES FOR OFFICIALS IN THE INSPECTION GROUP ( LATER NAMED ' INSPECTION DIRECTORATE '), STATES IN PARTICULAR :

P.71

' THE ADMINISTRATION IS OF THE OPINION THAT THE NATURE OF THESE MISSIONS IN FACT GENERALLY REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE TRAVEL ABOUT A CENTRAL POINT IN THE SAME INDUSTRIAL REGION, FOR WHICH THE USE OF A CAR WOULD PROVE MOST USEFUL . IT CONSIDERS HOWEVER THAT THE USE OF THE OFFICIAL'S OWN CAR, FOR THE OUTWARD AND RETURN JOURNEY TO THE PRINCIPAL CENTRE AT WHICH THE MISSION IS TO BE PERFORMED, IS NOT, IN THE MAJORITY OF CASES, IN THE DIRECT INTEREST OF THE SERVICE '.

IT PROVIDES FURTHERMORE THAT JOURNEYS BETWEEN THE PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT AND THE CENTRE AT WHICH THE MISSION IS TO BE PERFORMED SHALL BE REIMBURSED ON THE BASIS OF THE RAIL FARE, WHEREAS IN THE CASE OF OTHER JOURNEYS IT IS PROVIDED THAT HIRED CARS OR PRIVATE CARS SHALL BE USED (' WITH PRIOR AUTHORIZATION ').

IN THIS LAST CASE, THE RATE OF REIMBURSEMENT TO THE OFFICIAL IS 3 BELGIAN FRANCS FOR EACH KILOMETRE ACTUALLY COVERED .

FINALLY, THE OPINION LAYS DOWN THAT, ' IT IS PARTICULARLY STRESSED THAT...THE USE OF A PRIVATE CAR INVOLVING PAYMENT AT THE RATE OF 3 BELGIAN FRANCS PER KILOMETRE MUST BE EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZED '.

( B ) IT IS TRUE THAT THESE PROVISIONS DO NOT SHOW CLEARLY WHETHER THE GRANTING OF A RATE PER KILOMETRE SHOULD BE EXCLUDED IPSO JURE WHEN THE TRAVEL ORDER DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR ANY OUTWARD AND RETURN JOURNEY IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF THE ' MISSION CENTRE ', BUT ONLY FOR JOURNEYS BETWEEN THE PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT AND ONE OR MORE LARGE TOWNS WITH GOOD RAIL CONNEXIONS . HOWEVER SUCH PROVISIONS MUST CERTAINLY BE INTERPRETED AS AUTHORIZING THE REIMBURSEMENT AT THE RATE PER KILOMETRE, IN SUCH CASES, ONLY IN SPECIAL SITUATIONS AND ON THE BASIS OF DETAILED EVIDENCE .

THAT INTERPRETATION ALSO ARISES FROM THE FACT THAT THE STAFF REGULATIONS, WHICH ONLY PROVIDE BY WAY OF EXCEPTION FOR REIMBURSEMENT ON ANY BASIS OTHER THAN THAT OF THE RAIL FARE, TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER THE SAID ' OPINION '.

THE MISSIONS APPEARING IN THE STATEMENT UNDER NOS 1, 7, 8 AND 9 INVOLVE EXCLUSIVELY TRAVEL BETWEEN THE PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT ( LUXEMBOURG ) AND BRUSSELS .

FROM THE DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED THE COURT CANNOT FIND SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE OF THE FACT THAT THE USE OF A PRIVATE CAR WAS ' IN THE DIRECT INTEREST OF THE SERVICE '.

ON THE CONTRARY, THE IMMEDIATE SUPERIOR OF THE APPLICANT, MR BURGERT, STATED, IN CERTAIN OF THE CASES MENTIONED, THAT REIMBURSEMENT ON THE BASIS OF THE RAIL FARE WAS EQUITABLE .

P.72

THE FACT THAT, IN OTHER CASES, HE SPECIFIED IN TRAVEL ORDERS ' PRIVATE CAR, 3 BELGIAN FRANCS PER KILOMETRE ', OR APPROVED STATEMENTS OF THIS KIND, CANNOT BE ADMITTED AS SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE .

HAVING REGARD TO THE FOREGOING, THE CLAIMS OF THE APPLICANT RELATING TO THESE MISSIONS ARE UNFOUNDED .

( C ) THE MISSIONS LISTED UNDER NOS 5 AND 6 OF THE STATEMENT RELATED TO AN OUTWARD AND RETURN JOURNEY BETWEEN THE PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT ( LUXEMBOURG ) AND BRUSSELS AND, MOREOVER, OUTWARD AND RETURN JOURNEYS BETWEEN BRUSSELS AND THE HAGUE AND JOURNEYS WITHIN THE INDUSTRIAL REGIONS OF WHICH BRUSSELS IS THE CENTRE .

THE DISPUTE RELATES EXCLUSIVELY TO THE OUTWARD AND RETURN JOURNEYS BETWEEN BRUSSELS AND THE HAGUE, AS THE HIGH AUTHORITY HAS REIMBURSED THE OTHER JOURNEYS AT THE RATE PER KILOMETRE .

IT IS NECESSARY, HOWEVER, TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE CLAIMS OF THE APPLICANT ARE FOUNDED, BECAUSE IT WOULD BE ILLOGICAL, FOR A GIVEN MISSION, TO REIMBURSE ONE PART OF THE EXPENSES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RAIL FARE AND ANOTHER ON THE BASIS OF THE RATE PER KILOMETRE .

SUCH IS NOT THE CASE . HOWEVER, THE QUESTION WHETHER THE SUMS REIMBURSED COVER THE EXPENSES NORMALLY OCCASIONED BY THE USE OF A PRIVATE CAR, WITHIN THE LIMITS OBJECTIVELY ESTABLISHED BY THE RELEVANT PROVISIONS, CAN ONLY BE ASKED WITH REGARD TO THE USE OF THIS MEANS OF TRANSPORT WITHIN THE LIMITS AUTHORIZED AS CORRESPONDING TO THE INTEREST OF THE SERVICE .

THE JOURNEY BETWEEN BRUSSELS AND THE HAGUE WAS RIGHTLY NOT COVERED BY REIMBURSEMENT ON THE BASIS OF THE RATE PER KILOMETRE, BY REASON OF THE FACT THAT THE INTEREST OF THE SERVICE WOULD HAVE BEEN EQUALLY WELL SATISFIED BY THE USE ON THAT JOURNEY OF A LESS EXPENSIVE MEANS OF TRANSPORT, SUCH AS RAIL .

IF THE APPLICANT PREFERRED ALWAYS TO USE HIS PRIVATE CAR FOR REASONS OF HIS OWN CONVENIENCE, HE WAS FREE TO DO SO .

HE OUGHT HOWEVER TO HAVE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT, IN HIS ESTIMATE OF THE EXPENSES, THE FACT THAT THE TOTAL OF THE REIMBURSEMENT OF THE TRAVEL EXPENSES RESULTED FROM THE APPLICATION OF TWO DIFFERENT SYSTEMS OF CALCULATION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AUTHORIZATION RECEIVED .

CONSEQUENTLY, THE APPLICANT'S CLAIM WITH REGARD TO THESE MISSIONS IS ALSO UNFOUNDED .

P.73

HAVING REGARD TO THE FOREGOING, THE CLAIM RELATING TO THE PAYMENT OF THE SUM OF 4246 BELGIAN FRANCS MUST BE DISMISSED, WITHOUT THE NECESSITY OF CALCULATING THE SUM TO WHICH THIS AMOUNT WOULD BE REDUCED ON THE BASIS OF THE APPLICANT'S DECLARATION SET OUT AT 1(A ) ABOVE .

B - MISSIONS RELATING TO NOS 10 TO 13 OF THE STATEMENT ( CLAIM FOR 2918 BELGIAN FRANCS, INCREASED TO 2968 BELGIAN FRANCS IN THE REPLY )

( A ) THE HIGH AUTHORITY STATES THAT, FROM ITS POINT OF VIEW, THE APPLICANT CAN ONLY CLAIM THE AMOUNT OF 2920 BELGIAN FRANCS, SINCE THE DISTANCES COVERED MUST BE CALCULATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH OFFICIAL ROAD MAPS .

ACCORDING TO THE APPLICANT'S DECLARATION SET OUT AT 1(A ) ABOVE, SUCH QUESTIONS ARE EXCLUDED FROM THE DISPUTE .

CONSEQUENTLY, IT MUST BE ASSUMED THAT THE APPLICANT HAS REDUCED THE SUM CLAIMED TO 2920 BELGIAN FRANCS .

( B ) THERE ARE AT ISSUE FOUR DOUBLE JOURNEYS BETWEEN LUXEMBOURG AND BRUSSELS FOR WHICH THE APPLICANT WAS OBLIGED TO USE HIS PRIVATE CAR BECAUSE OF THE STRIKE ON THE BELGIAN RAILWAYS .

THE HIGH AUTHORITY STATES IN PARTICULAR THAT THE USE OF A PRIVATE CAR HAS NO CAUSAL CONNEXION WITH THE STRIKE, SINCE THE APPLICANT HABITUALLY UNDERTOOK MOST OF HIS JOURNEYS ON MISSION BY CAR .

THAT OBJECTION DISREGARDS THAT FACT THAT IN THE PRESENT CASE A CAUSAL CONNEXION EXISTED BETWEEN THE STRIKE AND THE NECESSITY OF USING THE PRIVATE CAR .

ON OTHER ADDITIONAL GROUNDS, THE ARGUMENT OF THE HIGH AUTHORITY MUST BE DISMISSED .

IN THIS CASE THE OBLIGATION TO REIMBURSE MUST BE EXAMINED, ON THE BASIS OF THE STAFF REGULATIONS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAST SENTENCE OF ARTICLE 17(D ) OF THE FORMER STAFF REGULATIONS OF THE ECSC IN THE VERSION ADOPTED BY THE COMMITTEE OF CHAIRMEN ON 21 NOVEMBER 1960 .

THAT PROVISION STIPULATES : ' IN THE CASE OF AN OFFICIAL TRAVELLING REGULARLY ON MISSION IN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, HOWEVER, THE APPOINTING AUTHORITY MAY DECIDE TO GRANT THAT OFFICIAL AN ALLOWANCE PER KILOMETRE COVERED INSTEAD OF REIMBURSEMENT OF RAIL FARES, IF THE USE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND REIMBURSEMENT OF TRAVEL EXPENSES ON THE NORMAL BASIS INVOLVE DEFINITE DISADVANTAGES '.

P.74

AS THE HIGH AUTHORITY INDIRECTLY ADMITS IN THE SAID ' OPINION ' OF 3 MAY 1957, THE MEMBERS OF THE INSPECTION DIRECTORATE HAD TO ' TRAVEL REGULARLY ON MISSION IN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES '.

IN THIS CASE, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO USE THE RAILWAY . NOR DID THE HIGH AUTHORITY CLAIM THAT THE INTEREST OF THE SERVICE REQUIRED THE USE OF AN AEROPLANE INSTEAD OF PRIVATE CARS .

THE REIMBURSEMENT OF THE RAIL FARE ONLY, THAT IS TO SAY, 578 BELGIAN FRANCS FOR A JOURNEY OF 440 KILOMETRES, BEING 1.31 BELGIAN FRANCS PER KILOMETRE COVERED, GIVES RISE TO ' DEFINITE DISADVANTAGES ', SINCE THAT SUM PLAINLY COULD NOT COVER THE EXPENSES WHICH THE APPLICANT HAD IN FACT INCURRED . ALL EXPENSES DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY INCURRED BY THE POSSESSION AND USE OF A MOTOR CAR, INCLUDING DEPRECIATION, MUST BE CONSIDERED AS TRAVEL EXPENSES .

IT IS TRUE THAT THE SAID ARTICLE 17(D ) ONLY PROVIDES THAT THE IMMEDIATE SUPERIOR ' MAY ' IN SUCH CASES ORDER REIMBURSEMENT ON THE BASIS OF THE RATE PER KILOMETRE .

AT FIRST SIGHT, IT MAY APPEAR DOUBTFUL WHETHER THE ' OPINION ' OF 3 MAY 1957 IS TO BE CONSIDERED A PRIORI AS SUCH A PROVISION, SINCE IT ONLY REFERS TO MISSIONS WHICH ALSO REQUIRE THE USE OF CARS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF A MISSION CENTRE .

HOWEVER, THE INTRODUCTION TO THE ' OPINION ' GIVES GROUNDS FOR THE CONCLUSION THAT IT IS BASED ON THE PRINCIPLE THAT THE AMOUNT TO BE REIMBURSED MUST NOT BE LESS THAN THE EXPENSES ACTUALLY INCURRED .

THE ' OPINION ' SHOULD THUS BE INTERPRETED IN THE LIGHT OF THAT PRINCIPLE .

APART FROM THE RAIL FARE, THE PROVISIONS APPLICABLE IN THIS CASE ONLY PROVIDED, AS THE BASIS OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR CASES INVOLVING THE USE OF A PRIVATE CAR, THE RATE OF 3 BELGIAN FRANCS FOR EACH KILOMETRE COVERED BY CAR .

IT EMERGES FROM THESE FACTORS THAT THE APPLICANT'S CLAIM RELATING TO THE PAYMENT OF 2920 BELGIAN FRANCS IS WELL FOUNDED .

MOREOVER, THE HIGH AUTHORITY OWES THE APPLICANT INTEREST AT THE RATE OF 4.5 PER CENT FROM THE DATE ON WHICH THE APPLICATION WAS MADE UP TO THE DATE OF PAYMENT .

C - JOURNEYS ON MISSION RELATING TO NOS 14, 15 AND 16 OF THE STATEMENT ( CLAIM FOR 16009 BELGIAN FRANCS, REDUCED TO 3645 BFRS IN THE REPLY )

( A ) IN ITS STATEMENT OF DEFENCE, THE HIGH AUTHORITY RECOGNIZED THE ORIGINAL CLAIM OF THE APPLICANT FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF 12364 BELGIAN FRANCS TO BE WELL FOUNDED .

P.75

CONSEQUENTLY, THE APPLICANT REDUCED THE SUM IN DISPUTE TO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 16009 AND 12364 BELGIAN FRANCS, THAT IS, 3645 BELGIAN FRANCS .

WITH REGARD TO THE INTEREST DUE ON THE SUM OF 12364 BELGIAN FRANCS, THE HIGH AUTHORITY HAS STATED THAT IT IS PREPARED TO PAY IT ONLY UNTIL THE DATE ON WHICH THE STATEMENT OF DEFENCE WAS SERVED ON THE APPLICANT .

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF LAW, HOWEVER, THIS PERIOD MUST RUN UNTIL THE SUM DUE HAS IN FACT BEEN PAID .

( B ) WITH REGARD TO THE JOURNEY APPEARING IN THE STATEMENT UNDER NO 16, THE DISPUTE BETWEEN THE PARTIES TURNS IN ADDITION ON THE QUESTION WHETHER THE COST OF THE ' RETURN JOURNEY ' FROM BRUSSELS TO LUXEMBOURG SHOULD BE REIMBURSED, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE APPLICANT HAS IN THE MEANTIME BEEN INFORMED OF HIS TRANSFER TO BRUSSELS .

ACCORDING TO THE DECLARATION OF THE APPLICANT REPRODUCED AT 1(A ) ABOVE, HOWEVER, IT MAY BE CONCLUDED THAT THIS POINT IS NO LONGER IN DISPUTE BEFORE THE COURT .

( C ) ALL THE JOURNEYS ON MISSION IN QUESTION RELATE TO TRAVEL BETWEEN LUXEMBOURG AND BRUSSELS AND BETWEEN BRUSSELS AND DIFFERENT INDUSTRIAL REGIONS .

THE HIGH AUTHORITY HAS PAID ONLY FOR THESE LATTER JOURNEYS ON THE BASIS OF THE RATE PER KILOMETRE .

THESE JOURNEYS MUST BE EXAMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 17(D ) OF THE FORMER STAFF REGULATIONS OF THE ECSC AND IN PARTICULAR THE LAST SENTENCE, QUOTED AT B ABOVE, TOGETHER WITH THE ' OPINION ' OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE OF THE HIGH AUTHORITY OF 20 FEBRUARY 1961, APPROVED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE HIGH AUTHORITY .

THAT ' OPINION ':

- FIXES THE RATE PER KILOMETRE AT 3 BELGIAN FRANCS;

- PROVIDES ' THAT THIS TYPE OF ARRANGEMENT MAY BE USED ONLY IN CONNEXION WITH JOURNEYS WHICH HAVE BEEN FOUND AT THE RESPONSIBILIY OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE INSPECTION DIRECTORATE TO BE IMPOSSIBLE TO CARRY OUT UNDER SATISFACTORY CONDITIONS BY MEANS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT ( REASONS MUST BE STATED ON THE TRAVEL ORDER ) AND IN CONNEXION WITH WHICH IT IS FOUND THAT REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES ON THE NORMAL BASIS WOULD BE CLEARLY INSUFFICIENT ( SUBSEQUENT CHECK ON THE BASIS OF A DETAILED REASONED STATEMENT OF THE DISTANCE COVERED ) '.

( D ) CONSEQUENTLY, ONE OF THE CONDITIONS FOR REIMBURSEMENT AT THE RATE PER KILOMETRE WAS THE FINDING THAT REIMBURSEMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RAIL FARE CLEARLY COVERED ONLY A PART OF THE ACTUAL MISSION EXPENSES .

THAT FINDING HAD TO BE MADE BY THE GENERAL DEPARTMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATION IN ORDER TO AVOID DISCRIMINATION BETWEEN THE OFFICIALS OF THE HIGH AUTHORITY .

FOR THE REASONS STATED AT A(C ) ABOVE, THE CONDITION IN QUESTION WAS NOT SATISFIED BY REASON OF THE FACT ALONE THAT THE AMOUNT REIMBURSED FOR EACH KILOMETRE COVERED WAS LESS THAN 3 BELGIAN FRANCS .

WITH REGARD TO THE JOURNEYS ON MISSION APPEARING IN THE STATEMENT UNDER NOS 14 AND 16, A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE TOTAL NUMBER OF KILOMETRES COVERED AND THE TOTAL AMOUNT ACTUALLY REIMBURSED DOES NOT, IN THE OPINION OF THE COURT OF JUSTICE AND IN THE ABSENCE OF MORE DETAILED INFORMATION, GIVE GROUNDS FOR DECLARING THAT THE REIMBURSEMENT WAS ' CLEARLY INSUFFICIENT '.

THEREFORE THE APPLICANT'S CLAIM ON THIS POINT IS UNFOUNDED .

( E ) IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ABOVE-MENTIONED PROVISIONS, ANOTHER CONDITION FOR REIMBURSEMENT AT THE RATE PER KILOMETRE WAS THAT THE IMMEDIATE SUPERIOR OF THE SERVANT CONCERNED CERTIFIES WITH REASONS ON THE TRAVEL ORDER THE NEED, FOR REASONS OF SERVICE, TO USE A PRIVATE CAR .

WITH REGARD TO THE ENTRY APPEARING IN NO 15 OF THE STATEMENT, THE TRAVEL ORDER BEARS THE FOLLOWING REMARK, ' MR LEPAPE MUST USE HIS CAR ON THE BASIS OF 3 BELGIAN FRANCS PER KILOMETRE TO RETAIN FULL FREEDOM TO VISIT COLLERIES TO BE SELECTED '.

THAT REMARK IS ONLY COVERED BY THE SIGNATURE OF THE APPLICANT ALONE, SINCE THE SIGNATURE OF THE IMMEDIATE SUPERIOR, MR BURGERT, IS PLACED ABOVE THE WORDING OF THE TRAVEL ORDER .

IN THE OPINION OF THE COURT, THIS MANNER OF COMPLETING THE TRAVEL ORDER DOES NOT FULFIL THE REQUIREMENTS LAID DOWN IN THE SAID ' OPINION '.

P.77

IN FACT, IN ORDER TO AVOID ALL ABUSE, VERY STRICT CONDITIONS OF FORM AND SUBSTANCE MUST BE IMPOSED FOR DECLARATIONS INTENDED TO ESTABLISH THE RIGHT TO REIMBURSEMENT AT THE RATE PER KILOMETRE - AN ARRANGEMENT WHICH THE REGULATIONS EXPRESSLY DESCRIBE AS AN EXCEPTION .

FOR THIS REASON, THE APPLICANT'S CLAIM ON THIS POINT IS UNFOUNDED .

HAVING REGARD TO THE FOREGOING, THE CLAIM RELATING TO THE PAYMENT OF A SUM OF 3645 BELGIAN FRANCS MUST BE DISMISSED .

D - JOURNEYS ON MISSION RELATING TO NOS 18 AND 19 OF THE STATEMENT; JOURNEY ON MISSION FROM 2 TO 6 ( OR 7 ) APRIL 1962 ( CLAIM FOR 2943 BELGIAN FRANCS, REDUCED TO 2942 BELGIAN FRANCS )

THESE JOURNEYS MUST BE EXAMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAME PROVISION AS THE JOURNEYS ON MISSION DISCUSSED AT C ABOVE .

WITH REGARD TO THE JOURNEY ON MISSION OF 2 TO 6 ( OR 7 ) APRIL 1962, HOWEVER, THE RELEVANT PROVISION IS THE THIRD PARAGRAPH OF ARTICLE 12(4 ) IN CONJUNCTION WITH ARTICLE 12(1 ) OF ANNEX VII TO THE PRESENT STAFF REGULATIONS OF THE ECSC OF 1 JANUARY 1962 .

ALL THE JOURNEYS IN QUESTION WERE UNDERTAKEN WITH BRUSSELS, THE APPLICANT'S NEW PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT, AS THE POINT OF DEPARTURE .

THE DESTINATIONS WERE ANTWERP, ROTTERDAM, LUXEMBOURG AND LIEGE, TOGETHER WITH THE INDUSTRIAL REGION IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF LIEGE .

THE IMMEDIATE SUPERIOR OF THE APPLICANT ENTERED ON THE TRAVEL ORDERS FOR THE FIRST TWO JOURNEYS : ' MR LEPAPE IS AUTHORIZED TO USE HIS PRIVATE CAR AND IS ENTITLED TO A KILOMETRE ALLOWANCE OF 3 BELGIAN FRANCS PER KILOMETRE '.

THE TRAVEL ORDER PROVIDED FOR THE THIRD JOURNEY ON MISSION CONTAINS ONLY THE ENTRY INITIALLED BY THE IMMEDIATE SUPERIOR ' OWN CAR, 3 BELGIAN FRANCS PER KILOMETRE '.

CONTRARY TO THE ' OPINION ' OF 20 FEBRUARY 1961, THESE ENTRIES DO NOT ESTABLISH THE NEED TO USE A PRIVATE CAR .

IN THIS INSTANCE THAT DEFECT IS THE MORE SERIOUS, SINCE THERE ARE VERY GOOD RAIL CONNEXIONS BETWEEN THE VARIOUS STATIONS ON THE JOURNEY IN QUESTION .

IN THIS RESPECT AN EXCEPTION COULD BE MADE AT MOST FOR THE JOURNEYS WITHIN THE INDUSTRIAL REGION AROUND LIEGE .

HOWEVER, IT APPEARS WITH REGARD TO THIS FROM THE DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED THAT THEY COVER ONLY A SMALL PART OF THE TOTAL JOURNEYS MADE .

CONSEQUENTLY THE CLAIM SHOULD BE DISMISSED WITHOUT EXAMINATION, WITHOUT THE NECESSITY OF CALCULATING THE SUM TO WHICH IT WOULD BE REDUCED ON THE BASIS OF THE DECLARATION BY THE APPLICANT SET OUT AT 1(A ) ABOVE .

Decision on costs

UNDER ARTICLE 70 OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE, IN DISPUTES BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND ITS OFFICIALS, THE INSTITUTION CONCERNED SHALL BEAR ITS OWN COSTS .

THE APPLICANT HAS SUCCEEDED IN ONLY A SMALL PART OF HIS CLAIM .

ACCOUNT MUST BE TAKEN, HOWEVER, OF THE FACT THAT HE HAS BEEN OBLIGED TO MAKE AN APPLICATION IN ORDER TO OBTAIN RECOGNITION OF HIS RIGHTS .

CONSEQUENTLY, ALTHOUGH HIS CLAIMS HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED TO A MUCH LESSER DEGREE THAN THAT SOUGHT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FIRST SUBPARAGRAPH OF ARTICLE 69(3 ) OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE, THE HIGH AUTHORITY SHOULD BEAR HALF OF THE EXPENSES INCURRED BY THE APPLICANT WHO SHOULD HIMSELF BEAR THE OTHER HALF .

Operative part

THE COURT ( FIRST CHAMBER )

HEREBY :

1 . ( A ) TAKES NOTE OF THE HIGH AUTHORITY'S OFFER TO PAY TO THE APPLICANT, IN FULL AND FINAL SETTLEMENT, THE SUM OF 12364 BELGIAN FRANCS, WHICH, ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE HIGH AUTHORITY, RESULTS FROM THE AMENDMENTS TO THE ACCOUNTS OF THE MISSION EXPENSES FOR THE JOURNEYS ON MISSION UNDERTAKEN BY THE APPLICANT BETWEEN 1 MARCH AND 17 APRIL 1961;

( B ) ORDERS THE HIGH AUTHORITY TO PAY TO THE APPLICANT, ON THE AMOUNT MENTIONED IN SUBPARAGRAPH ( A ) ABOVE, INTEREST AT THE RATE OF 4.5 PER CENT FROM THE DATE ON WHICH THE APPLICATION WAS MADE UP TO THE DATE ON WHICH THE SUM DUE IS ACTUALLY PAID;

2 . ORDERS THE HIGH AUTHORITY TO PAY TO THE APPLICANT THE SUM OF 2920 BELGIAN FRANCS TOGETHER WITH INTEREST AT 4.5 PER CENT FROM THE DATE ON WHICH THE APPLICATION WAS MADE UP TO THE DATE OF PAYMENT;

3 . DISMISSES THE REMAINING CONCLUSIONS OF THE APPLICATION AS UNFOUNDED;

4 . ORDERS THE HIGH AUTHORITY TO BEAR ITS OWN COSTS AND ONE HALF OF THE COSTS INCURRED BY THE APPLICANT WHO SHALL BEAR THE OTHER HALF OF HIS OWN COSTS .