Order of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 5 September 2019 –
Italy v Commission

(Cases T‑313/15 and T‑317/15)

(Rules on the use of languages — Notices of open competition for the recruitment of administrators — Choice of second language from three languages — Regulation No 1 — Article 1d(1), Article 27 and Article 28(f) of the Staff Regulations — Principle of non-discrimination — Proportionality — Manifestly well-founded action)

1.      Officials — Notice of open competition — Languages of participation in tests — Limitation of the choice of second language — Discrimination based on language — Justification based on the interests of the service that new recruits be immediately operational — Unlawful

(Staff Regulations of Officials, Arts 1d and 28(f) and Annex III, Art. 1(1)(f); Council Regulation No 1, Art. 1)

(see paras 54-57, 63-65, 70, 105)

2.      Officials — Notice of open competition — Languages of participation in tests — Equal treatment — Judicial review — Scope

(Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 1d)

(see paras 67, 68)

3.      Officials — Competitions — Holding of an open competition — Languages of communication between the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) and the candidates — Restriction — Lawfulness — Statement of reasons — Justification having regard to the interests of the service — Observance of the principle of equal treatment between candidates

(Staff Regulations of Officials, Arts 1d(1) and 6, and Annex III, Art. 1; Council Regulation No 1, Arts 2 and 5)

(see paras 120-123, 130)

Re:

In Case T‑313/15, application under Article 263 TFEU for annulment of the notice of open competition EPSO/AD/301/15 to draw up a reserve list of administrators (AD 5) (OJ 2015 C 92 A, p.1), and, in Case T‑317/15, application under Article 263 TFEU for annulment of the notice of open competition EPSO/AD/3012/15 to draw up a reserve list of administrators in the field of audit (AD 5) (OJ 2015 C 99 A, p.1).

Operative part

1. Cases T‑313/15 and T‑317/15 are joined for the purpose of the present order.

2. The notice of open competition EPSO/AD/301/15 to draw up a reserve list of administrators (AD 5) and the notice of open competition EPSO/AD/3012/15 to draw up a reserve list of administrators in the field of audit (AD 5) are annulled.

3. The European Commission shall bear its own costs and pay those incurred by the Italian Republic.

4. The Kingdom of Spain shall bear its own costs.