Action brought on 15 February 2019 — European Court of Auditors v Karel Pinxten

(Case C-130/19)

Language of the case: French

Parties

Applicant: European Court of Auditors (represented by: C. Lesauvage, E. von Bardeleben, J. Vermer, acting as Agents)

Defendant: Karel Pinxten

Form of order sought

Declare that Mr Pinxten no longer meets the obligations arising from his office under Articles 285 and 286 TFEU and the rules adopted in application thereof;

Impose, consequently, the penalty laid down in Article 286(6) TFEU, the Court of Auditors leaving it to the discretion of the Court to determine the scope;

Order Mr Pinxten to pay the costs.

Pleas in law and main arguments

The Court of Auditors complains that Mr Pinxten:

firstly, made improper use of the resources of the Court of Auditors in order to finance activities with no connection or incompatible with his duties as a Member;

secondly, made improper and unlawful use of tax privileges;

thirdly, made false insurance claims in the context of alleged accidents involving the service vehicle made available to him;

fourthly, exercised managed activities for a commercial company and intense political activity within a political party although he was in the service of the Court of Auditors;

fifthly, created a situation of conflict of interests by making a service offer to an official of an audited entity.

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