Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 28 March 2017 — El-Qaddafi v Council

(Case T‑681/14)

(Common foreign and security policy — Restrictive measures taken against Libya — Freezing of funds — Restrictions on the entry into and transit through the territory of the European Union — Retention of the applicant’s name — Rights of the defence — Obligation to state reasons)

1.      Actions for annulment — Time-limits — Point from which time starts to run — Notification — Concept — Notification to an applicant’s representative — Condition

(Art. 263, sixth para., TFEU)

(see para. 31)

2.      Acts of the institutions — Statement of reasons — Obligation — Scope — Restrictive measures against Libya — Prohibition of entry and passage and freezing of funds of persons and entities having participated in the commission of serious human rights violations in that State — Decision falling within a context known to the person concerned — Whether summary statement of reasons sufficient

(Art. 296 TFEU; Council Decisions 2011/137/CFSP and 2014/380/CFSP; Council Regulations No 204/2011 and No 689/2014)

(see paras 56-60, 63, 74)

Re:

APPLICATION pursuant to Article 263 TFEU for annulment, first, of Council Decision 2014/380/CFSP of 23 June 2014 amending Decision 2011/137/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya (OJ 2014 L 183, p. 52), in so far as it maintains the applicant’s name on the list in Annexes I and III to Council Decision 2011/137/CFSP of 28 February 2011 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya (OJ 2011 L 58, p. 53), and, secondly, of Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 689/2014 of 23 June 2014 implementing Article 16(2) of Regulation (EU) No 204/2011 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya (OJ 2014 L 183, p. 1), in so far as it maintains the applicant’s name on the list in Annex II to Council Regulation (EU) No 204/2011 of 2 March 2011 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya (OJ 2011 L 58, p. 1).

Operative part

The Court:

1. Annuls Council Decision 2014/380/CFSP of 23 June 2014 amending Decision 2011/137/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya, in so far as it maintains the name of Ms Aisha Muammer Mohamed El-Qaddafi on the list in Annexes I and III to Council Decision 2011/137/CFSP of 28 February 2011 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya;

2. Annuls Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 689/2014 of 23 June 2014 implementing Article 16(2) of Regulation (EU) No 204/2011 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya, in so far as it maintains the name of Ms El-Qaddafi on the list in Annex II to Council Regulation (EU) No 204/2011 of 2 March 2011 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya;

3. Orders the Council of the European Union to pay the costs.