Action brought on 24 November 2022 — Ezubov v Council

(Case T-741/22)

(2023/C 24/100)

Language of the case: English

Parties

Applicant: Pavel Ezubov (Moscow, Russia) (represented by: D. Rovetta, M. Campa and V. Villante, lawyers)

Defendant: Council of the European Union

Form of order sought

The applicant claim that the Court should:

— annul Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/1530 (1) of 14 September 2022 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine insofar as it maintains the name of the applicant in the list in Annex I of Decision 2014/145/CFSP;

— annul Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1529 (2) of 14 September 2022 implementing Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine insofar as it maintains the name of the applicant in the list in Annex I of Regulation (EU) 269/2014;

— annul the Decision to maintain the applicant on the list of persons and entities subject to restrictive measures under Council Decision 2014/145/CFSP (3), as amended by the Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/1530, and Council Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 (4), as implemented by Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2022/1529, concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine adopted by the Council of the European Union by letter dated 15 September 2022; insofar as these acts include the applicant in the list of persons and entities made subject to the restrictive measures;

— order the Council to bear the costs of the present proceedings.

Pleas in law and main arguments

In support of the action, the applicant relies on three pleas in law.

1. First plea in law, alleging infringement of the obligation to state reasons, of Article 296 of the TFEU and of Article 41 (2)(c) of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, breach of the right to effective judicial protection and of Article 47 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

2. Second plea in law, alleging manifest error of assessment, failure to discharge the burden of proof, breach of the listing criteria set forth in Articles 1 (1)(b), (d) and 2 (1)(d) and (f) of Council Decision 2014/145/CFSP of 17 March 2014 and in Article 3 (1)(d) and (f) of Council Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 of 17 March 2014, both concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, and breach of the principle of good and sound administration.

3. Third plea in law, alleging breach of the principle of proportionality and of the applicant’s fundamental rights, breach of the applicant’s fundamental rights to property and freedom to conduct business and breach of Articles 16 and 17 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

(1) Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/1530 of 14 September 2022 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine (OJ 2022 L 239, p. 149).

(2) Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1529 of 14 September 2022 implementing Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine (OJ 2022 L 239, p. 1).

(3) Council Decision 2014/145/CFSP of 17 March 2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine (OJ 2014 L 78, p. 16).

(4) Council Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 of 17 March 2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine (OJ 2014 L 78, p. 6).