Judgment of the General Court of 10 May 2016 — Mikhalchanka v Council

(Case T-693/13) ¹

(Common foreign and security policy — Restrictive measures taken against Belarus — Freezing of funds and economic resources — Restrictions on entry into, and transit through, the territory of the European Union — Retention of the applicant’s name on the list of persons concerned — Journalist — Rights of defence — Obligation to state reasons — Error of assessment)

Language of the case: French

Parties

Applicant: Aliaksei Mikhalchanka (Minsk, Belarus) (represented by: M. Michalauskas, lawyer)

Defendant: Council of the European Union (represented by: J.-P. Hix and F. Naert, acting as Agents)

Re:

Application under Article 263 TFEU for annulment of Council Decision 2013/534/CFSP of 29 October 2013 amending Decision 2012/642/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Belarus (OJ 2013 L 288, p. 69) and of Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1054/2013 of 29 October 2013 implementing Article 8a(1) of Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 concerning restrictive measures in respect of Belarus (OJ 2013 L 288, p. 1)

Operative part of the judgment

The Court hereby:

Dismisses the application of the Council of the European Union for a ruling that there is no need to adjudicate;

Annuls, in so far as they concern Mr Aliaksei Mikhalchanka:

Council Decision 2013/534/CFSP of 29 October 2013 amending Decision 2012/642/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Belarus;

Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1054/2013 of 29 October 2013 implementing Article 8a(1) of Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 concerning restrictive measures in respect of Belarus;

Orders the Council to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by Mr Mikhalchanka.

____________

¹ OJ C 93, 29.3.2014.