Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 16 October 2014 —
Evropaïki Dynamiki v Commission

(Case T‑297/12)

Non-contractual liability — Public service contracts — Disclosure by the Commission to third parties of information allegedly harmful to the applicant’s reputation — Non-pecuniary loss — Sufficiently serious infringement of a legal rule conferring rights on individuals

1.                     Non-contractual liability — Conditions — Unlawfulness — Damage — Causal link — One of the conditions not satisfied — Claim for compensation dismissed in its entirety (Art. 288, second para., EC) (see paras 28-33)

2.                     Non-contractual liability — Conditions — Real and certain damage caused by an illegal measure — Burden of proof — Communication to third parties by the Commission of information allegedly damaging the applicant’s reputation — Information referring to the existence of an investigation opened in its regard, but not to the charges raised or the rules in question — No real damage (Art. 288, second para., EC) (see paras 46, 58, 64)

3.                     Non-contractual liability — Conditions — Sufficiently serious breach of a rule of law conferring rights on individuals — Rule of law intended to confer rights on individuals — Concept — Principles of sound administration and proportionality — Not included (Art. 288, second para., EC) (see paras 76, 78)

4.                     Non-contractual liability — Conditions — Sufficiently serious breach of a rule of law conferring rights on individuals — Disclosure of non-confidential information in the context of a tendering procedure — No infringement of the obligation of business secrecy — Not included (Arts 287 EC and 288, second para., EC) (see paras 80-82, 93, 94)

Re:

ACTION for compensation for the harm allegedly suffered due to the disclosure by the Commission in its letter of 3 July 2007 to third parties of certain information concerning an administrative investigation by the Commission in respect of the applicant and the applicant’s personnel recruitment policy.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders Evropaïki Dynamiki — Proigmena Systimata Tilepikoinonion Pliroforikis kai Tilematikis AE to pay the costs.