Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Camber) of 11 June 2014 —
Syria International Islamic Bank v Council

(Case T‑293/12)

Common foreign and security policy — Restrictive measures against Syria — Freezing of funds — Manifest error of assessment — Burden of proof — Claim for damages

1.                     Actions for annulment — Interest in bringing proceedings — Action directed against a measure which has been repealed — Respective effects of repeal and annulment — Applicant maintaining an interest in obtaining annulment of the contested decision (Arts 264 TFEU and 266 TFEU; Council Decisions 2011/782/CFSP and 2012/335/CFSP) (see paras 35-41)

2.                     European Union — Judicial review of the legality of the acts of the institutions — Restrictive measures against Syria — Freezing of funds of certain persons and bodies in view of the situation in Syria — Judicial review — Scope — Restricted review for general rules — Review extending to the assessment of facts and verification of evidence for measures applying to specific entities (Art. 29 TEU; Art. 215(2) TFEU; Council Regulation No 544/2012; Council Decision 2012/335/CFSP) (see paras 54-57)

3.                     Judicial proceedings — Application initiating proceedings — Formal requirements — Identification of the subject-matter of the dispute — Brief summary of the pleas in law on which the application is based — Action for compensation for damage caused by an EU institution — No indications as to the character and extent of the damage suffered and the causal link — Inadmissibility (Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 44(1)(c)) (see paras 72-75, 83)

4.                     Judicial proceedings — Producing evidence — Time-limit — Evidence lodged out of time — Conditions (Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 48(1)) (see paras 76-79)

Re:

Firstly, application for annulment of Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 544/2012 of 25 June 2012 implementing Article 32(1) of Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria (OJ 2012 L 165, p. 20, corrigendum OJ 2012 L 173, p. 27) and of Council Implementing Decision 2012/335/CFSP of 25 June 2012 implementing Decision 2011/782/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Syria (OJ 2012 L 165, p. 80), in so far as they concern the applicant and, secondly, a claim for damages.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Annuls Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 544/2012 of 25 June 2012 implementing Article 32(1) of Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria in so far as it relates to Syria International Islamic Bank PJSC;

2. Annuls Council Implementing Decision 2012/335/CFSP of 25 June 2012 implementing Decision 2011/782/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Syria in so far as it relates to Syria International Islamic Bank;

3. Dismisses the claim for damages as inadmissible;

4. Orders Syria International Islamic Bank to bear one quarter of its own costs;

5. Orders the Council of the European Union to bear its own costs and to pay three quarters of those incurred by Syria International Islamic Bank.