Order of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 11 November 2021 –
ZU v EEAS

(Case T‑689/19)

(Action for annulment and for damages – Civil service – Officials – Commission staff serving in the EEAS – Request for reimbursement of mission expenses – Request for assistance – Rejection – Competence of the author of the act – Delegation of powers – Pre-litigation procedure – Designation of the defendant – Partial inadmissibility – Principle of sound financial management – Misuse of powers – Action in part manifestly lacking any foundation in law)

1.      Judicial proceedings – Absolute bar to proceeding – To be considered of the Court’s own motion – Decision taken by way of reasoned order

(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Arts 126 and 129)

(see paras 21, 22)

2.      Actions brought by officials – Action against a decision rejecting a complaint – Effect – Disputed measure referred to the Court – Exception – Decision without confirmatory effect

(Staff Regulations of Officials, Arts 90 and 91)

(see paras 28, 29, 47)

3.      Officials – Appointing Authority – Powers – Official of the Commission assigned in that capacity to the European External Action Service (EEAS) – Submission, by the person concerned, of requests for reimbursement of expenses and for assistance – Division of competences between the appointing authority of the Commission and that of the EEAS

(Staff Regulations of Officials, Arts 1b(a), 2(1) and 24; Council Decision 2010/427, Art. 6(5))

(see paras 31-44)

4.      Actions brought by officials – Prior administrative complaint – Lack of competence of the author of the contested act – Ground involving a question of public policy

(Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 90)

(see para. 45)

5.      Actions brought by officials – Claim for compensation for damage caused by conduct that does not constitute a decision – No pre-litigation procedure in accordance with the Staff Regulations – Inadmissibility

(Staff Regulations of Officials, Arts 90 and 91)

(see paras 108-110)

Re:

Application under Article 270 TFEU seeking, first, annulment of the decision of the EEAS of 30 November 2018 rejecting the applicant’s requests for the reimbursement of mission costs and for the assistance provided for in Article 24 of the Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union and, in so far as necessary, annulment of the decision of the European Commission of 28 June 2019 rejecting the applicant’s complaint directed against the decision of the EEAS referred to above and, second, compensation for the harm allegedly suffered by him.

Operative part

1. The action is dismissed.

2. ZU shall pay the costs.