Judgment of the General Court (Fourth Chamber) of 17 April 2013 —
TCMFG v Council

(Case T‑404/11)

Common Foreign and Security Policy — Restrictive measures against Iran intended to prevent nuclear proliferation — Freezing of funds — Obligation to state reasons — Manifest error of assessment

1.                     Acts of the institutions — Statement of reasons — Obligation — Scope — Restrictive measures against Iran — Freezing of funds of persons, entities or bodies engaged in or supporting nuclear proliferation — Minimum requirements — Infringement — Partial annulment of the contested measure (Art. 296, second para., TFEU; Council Decision 2010/413, Arts 20(1), and 24(3), and Annex II; Council Decision 2011/299) (see paras 19-26, o.p. 1)

2.                     European Union — Common foreign and security policy — Restrictive measures against Iran — Freezing of funds of persons, entities or bodies engaged in or supporting nuclear proliferation — Action for annulment brought by an entity to which a fund-freezing decision applies — Burden of proof — Judicial review (Council Decisions 2010/413 and 2011/299) (see paras 30, 33-38)

3.                     Actions for annulment — Judgment annulling a measure — Effects — Partial annulment of a decision concerning the adoption of restrictive measures against Iran — No annulment action brought against the implementing regulation implementing the regulation concerning the adoption of restrictive measures against Iran — Maintenance of the effects of the said decision for a period of not more than two months and ten days from the date of delivery of the judgment — Justification on grounds of legal certainty (Art. 264, second para., TFEU; Council Implementing Regulation No 503/2011; Council Decisions 2010/413 and 2011/299) (see paras 42-44, o.p. 2)

Re:

ACTION for annulment of Council Decision 2011/299/CFSP of 23 May 2011 amending Decision 2010/413/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Iran (OJ 2011 L 136, p. 65), to the extent that it affects the applicant.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Annuls Council Decision 2011/299/CFSP of 23 May 2011 amending Decision 2010/413/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Iran, to the extent that it affects Turbo Compressor Manufacturer (TCMFG);

2. Maintains the effects of Decision 2011/299/CFSP, to the extent that it affects TCMFG, for a period which may not exceed two months and ten days as from the date of delivery of this judgment;

3. Orders the Council of the European Union to bear, in addition to its own costs, the costs incurred by TCMFG;

4. Orders the European Commission to bear its own costs.