Judgment of the General Court of 20 December 2023 – Abramovich v Council of the European Union
(Case T-313/22) 1
(Common foreign and security policy – Restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine – Freezing of funds – List of persons, entities and bodies subject to the freezing of funds and economic resources – Restriction on entry into the territory of the Member States – List of persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictions on entry into the territories of the Member States – Inclusion and maintenance of the applicant’s name on the lists – Definition of ‘leading businesspersons’ – Article 2(1)(g) of Decision 2014/145/CFSP – Obligation to state reasons – Rights of the defence – Error of assessment – Proportionality – Equal treatment – Right to property – Freedom to conduct a business – Right to private life – Application of restriction on entry to a national of a Member State – Free movement of Union citizens)
Language of the case: French
Parties
Applicant: Roman Arkadyevich Abramovich (Nemchinovo, Russia) (represented by: T. Bontinck, A. Guillerme, S. Bonifassi, M. Brésart, L. Burguin, J. Goffin, J. Bastien, R. Lööf, lawyers, and C. Zatschler, Senior Counsel)
Defendant: Council of the European Union (represented by: M. Bishop and M.-C. Cadilhac, acting as Agents)
Intervener in support of the defendant: European Commission (represented by J.-F. Brakeland, C. Giolito, L. Puccio and M. Carpus Carcea, acting as Agents)
Re:
By his action, the applicant seeks, first, under Article 263 TFEU, annulment of (i) Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/429 of 15 March 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 87I, p. 44), and of Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/427 of 15 March 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 87I, p. 1); (ii) 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), and of 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); (iii) Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/572 of 13 March 2023 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine (OJ 2023 L 75I, p. 134), and of Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/571 of 13 March 2023 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 2023 L 75I, p. 1); and (iv) Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/811 of 13 April 2023 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine (OJ 2023 L 101, p. 67), and of Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/806 of 13 April 2023 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 2023 L 101, p. 1), in so far as those acts concern the applicant and, second, under Article 268 TFEU, compensation in respect of the harm he claims to have suffered as a result of the adoption of the initial acts.
Operative part of the judgment
The Court:
Dismisses the action;
Orders Mr Roman Arkadyevich Abramovich to bear his own costs and to pay those incurred by the Council of the European Union;
Orders the European Commission to bear its own costs.
____________
1 OJ C 266, 11.7.2022.