Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 9 July 2014 —
Al‑Tabbaa v Council

(Joined Cases T‑329/12 and T‑74/13)

Common foreign and security policy — Restrictive measures taken against Syria — Freezing of funds and economic resources — Restrictions on the entry into and transit through the European Union — Rights of defence — Right to an effective judicial remedy — Obligation to state reasons — Error of assessment

1.                     Judicial proceedings — Decision or regulation replacing the contested measure in the course of proceedings — New factor — Extension of the initial pleadings (Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 48(2)) (see para. 54)

2.                     Actions for annulment — Time-limits — Mandatory — Examination by the EU judicature of its own motion (Art. 263, sixth para., TFEU; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 102) (see para. 55)

3.                     European Union — Judicial review of the legality of the acts of the institutions — Restrictive measures against Syria — Prohibition of entry and transit and freezing of funds of certain persons and entities responsible for violent repression against the civilian population — Ambit of the review (Art. 263 TFEU; Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 47; Council Regulation No 410/2012; Council Decision 2012/256/CFSP) (see paras 76-87)

Re:

ACTION for annulment of Council acts containing restrictive measures concerning the applicant, namely, initially, Council Implementing Decision 2012/256/CFSP of 14 May 2012 implementing Council Decision 2011/782/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Syria (OJ 2012 L 126, p. 9) and Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 410/2012 of 14 May 2012 implementing Article 32(1) of Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria (OJ 2012 L 126, p. 3).

Operative part

The Court:

1. Annuls Council Implementing Decision 2012/256/CFSP of 14 May 2012 implementing Decision 2011/782/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Syria and Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 410/2012 of 14 May 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 they concern Mr Mazen Al-Tabbaa;

2. Annuls Council Decision 2012/739/CFSP of 29 November 2012 concerning restrictive measures against Syria and repealing Decision 2011/782 and Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1117/2012 of 29 November 2012 implementing Article 32(1) of Regulation No 36/2012, in so far as they concern Mr Al-Tabbaa;

3. Annuls Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 363/2013 of 22 April 2013 implementing Regulation No 36/2012 and Council Implementing Decision 2013/185/CFSP of 22 April 2013 implementing Decision 2012/739, in so far as they concern Mr Al-Tabbaa;

4. Annuls Council Decision 2013/255/CFSP of 31 May 2013 concerning restrictive measures against Syria, in so far as it concerns Mr Al-Tabbaa;

5. Orders the effects of Decision 2013/255 to be maintained as regards Mr Al-Tabbaa until the annulment in part of Implementing Regulation No 363/2013 implementing Regulation No 36/2012 takes effect;

6. Declares that there is no need to adjudicate on the action in Case T‑74/13;

7. Orders the Council of the European Union to pay, in addition to its own costs, those incurred by the applicant in Case T‑329/12 and three-quarters of the costs incurred by him in Case T‑74/13;

8. Orders the applicant to pay one quarter of his costs in Case T‑74/13.