Judgment of the General Court (Fourth Chamber) of 5 December 2012 — Qualitest v Council

(Case T‑421/11)

Common foreign and security policy — Restrictive measures adopted against Iran with the aim of preventing nuclear proliferation — Freezing of funds — Action for annulment — Obligation to state reasons — Manifest error of assessment

1.                     Procedure — Act repealing and replacing the contested measure during the proceedings — Application to amend the pleas for annulment — Obligation on the applicant to submit that application within the two months specified in Article 263, sixth paragraph, TFEU — Exceptions — Conditions (Art. 263, sixth para., TFEU) (see paras 22-27)

2.                     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, Art. 24(3); Council Regulations No 961/2010, Art. 36(3), and No 267/2012, Art. 46(3)) (see paras 32-34)

3.                     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 Regulations No 961/2010 and No 267/2012) (see para. 55)

4.                     Actions for annulment — Judgment annulling a measure — Effects — Partial annulment of two regulations and the one decision concerning the adoption of restrictive measures against Iran — Annulment of the regulations taking effect as from the expiry of the period for appeal or dismissal thereof — Application of that period to when the annulment of the decision is to take effect (Arts 264, second para., TFEU and 280 TFEU; Statute of the Court of Justice, Arts 56, first para., and 60, second para.; Council Regulations No 503/2011 and No 267/2012; Council Decision 2011/299) (see paras 68, 69)

Re:

APPLICATION for annulment in part 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), of Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 503/2011 of 23 May 2011 implementing Regulation (EU) No 961/2010 on restrictive measures against Iran (OJ 2011 L 136, p. 26) and of Council Regulation (EU) No 267/2012 of 23 March 2012 concerning restrictive measures against Iran and repealing Regulation (EU) No 961/2010 (OJ 2012 L 88, p. 1).

Operative part

The Court:

1. Annuls, in so far as they concern Qualitest FZE:

—      Council Decision 2011/299/CFSP of 23 May 2011 amending Decision 2010/413/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Iran;

—      Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 503/2011 of 23 May 2011 implementing Regulation (EU) No 961/2010 on restrictive measures against Iran;

—      Council Regulation (EU) No 267/2012 of 23 March 2012 concerning restrictive measures against Iran and repealing Regulation (EU) No 961/2010;

2. Maintains the effects of Decision 2011/299 as regards Qualitest until the annulment of Implementing Regulation No 503/2011 and Regulation No 267/2012 takes effect;

3. Orders the Council of the European Union to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by Qualitest;

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