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Document 62018TJ0217

    Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 10 September 2019.
    DK v European External Action Service.
    Civil service — Disciplinary proceedings — Criminal conviction — Penalty of withholding an amount from the pension — Manifest error of assessment — Proportionality — Obligation to state reasons — Mitigating circumstances — Liability.
    Case T-217/18.

    Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 10 September 2019 –
    DK v EEAS

    (Case T‑217/18)

    (Civil service — Disciplinary proceedings — Criminal conviction — Penalty of withholding an amount from the pension — Manifest error of assessment — Proportionality — Obligation to state reasons — Mitigating circumstances — Liability)

    1. 

    Officials — Disciplinary measures — Penalty — Discretion of the appointing authority — Taking into account aggravating or extenuating circumstances — No obligation to take into account damages already awarded at national level in respect of loss caused to the EU — No misuse of powers

    (Staff Regulations of Officials, Annex IX, Art. 10)

    (see paras 38-42, 44, 51, 52, 59, 61)

    2. 

    Officials — Disciplinary measures — Penalty — Discretion of the appointing authority — No obligation to follow the opinion issued by the Disciplinary Board

    (Staff Regulations of Officials, Annex IX, Arts 6 and 8)

    (see paras 68-72)

    3. 

    Officials — Disciplinary measures — Penalty — Discretion of the appointing authority — Judicial review — Limits

    (Staff Regulations of Officials, Annex IX, Art. 9(2))

    (see paras 75-77)

    4. 

    Officials — Disciplinary measures — Penalty — Discretion of the appointing authority — Simultaneous disciplinary proceedings and criminal prosecution — Obligation of the administration to take a final decision on the situation of the official only after final judgment of the criminal court — Obligation on the administration to act within a reasonable period

    (Staff Regulations of Officials, Annex IX, Art. 25)

    (see paras 85-88, 90, 91, 95)

    5. 

    Officials — Disciplinary measures — Penalty — Discretion of the appointing authority — Withholding pensions — Basis of calculation for withholding pensions — Inclusion of family allowances — Conditions — Minimum income guarantee

    (Staff Regulations of Officials, Annex VIII, Arts 6, 42 and 43, Annex IX, Art. 9(2))

    (see paras 118, 119, 123, 124)

    6. 

    Officials — Decision adversely affecting an official — Disciplinary penalty — Obligation to state reasons — Scope

    (Art. 296 TFEU; Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 25 and Annex IX, Art. 22)

    (see paras 145-149, 158)

    7. 

    Actions brought by officials — Application for damages linked to an application for annulment — Dismissal of claim for annulment leading to dismissal of the claim for compensation

    (Staff Regulations of Officials, Art. 91)

    (see paras 184-186)

    Re:

    Application under Article 270 TFEU seeking, first, annulment of the decision of the EEAS of 23 May 2017 to impose on the applicant a disciplinary penalty and, secondly, compensation for the harm allegedly suffered by the applicant as a result of the EEAS’ infringement of his rights of defence in the criminal proceedings brought against him before the Belgian courts.

    Operative part

    The Court:

    1. 

    Dismisses the action;

    2. 

    Orders DK to pay the costs.

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