Case C‑725/20 P

Maria Teresa Coppo Gavazzi and Others

v

European Parliament

Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 19 September 2024

(Appeal – Law governing the institutions – Single Statute for Members of the European Parliament – Members of the European Parliament elected in Italian constituencies – Adoption by the Italian Chamber of Deputies of a decision on pensions – Change in the amounts of the pensions of members of the Italian Parliament – Corresponding change, by the European Parliament, in the amounts of the pensions of certain former Members of the European Parliament elected in Italy – Replacement of the decisions of the Parliament – Continuing interest in bringing proceedings for annulment of the judgment of the General Court of the European Union)

1. Actions for annulment – Interest in bringing proceedings – Repeal of the contested act in the course of the proceedings – Interest of the applicant in bringing proceedings capable of continuing in view of a risk of repetition of the alleged unlawfulness

   (Art. 263, fourth para., TFEU)

   (see paragraphs 40-42, 47)

2. European Parliament – Rules governing the payment of expenses and allowances to Members of the European Parliament – Single Statute for Members of the European Parliament – Decision of the Directorate-General for Finances of the European Parliament concerning the change in the amount of the pensions of former Members of the European Parliament – Change carried out in application of the identical pension rule – Entry into force of the Statute for Members – No effect

   (European Parliament Bureau Decision concerning implementing measures for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament, Art. 75; Rules governing the payment of expenses and allowances to Members of the European Parliament, Annex III, Art. 2(1))

   (see paragraphs 85, 86, 88-91, 159)

3. European Parliament – Rules governing the payment of expenses and allowances to Members of the European Parliament – Single Statute for Members of the European Parliament – Decision of the Directorate-General for Finances of the European Parliament concerning the change in the amount of the pensions of former Members of the European Parliament – Principle of the protection of legitimate expectations – Infringement – No infringement

   (European Parliament Bureau Decision concerning implementing measures for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament, Art. 75; Rules governing the payment of expenses and allowances to Members of the European Parliament, Annex III, Art. 2(1))

   (see paragraphs 95-98)

4. European Parliament – Rules governing the payment of expenses and allowances to Members of the European Parliament – Single Statute for Members of the European Parliament – Decision of the Directorate-General for Finances of the European Parliament concerning the change in the amount of the pensions of former Members of the European Parliament – Restriction of the right to property – Breach of the principle of proportionality – No breach

   (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Arts 17(1) and 52(1); European Parliament Bureau Decision concerning implementing measures for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament, Art. 75; Rules governing the payment of expenses and allowances to Members of the European Parliament, Annex III, Art. 2(1))

   (see paragraphs 106-110, 116-119)

5. European Parliament – Rules governing the payment of expenses and allowances to Members of the European Parliament – Single Statute for Members of the European Parliament – Decision of the Directorate-General for Finances of the European Parliament concerning the change in the amount of the pensions of former Members of the European Parliament – Principle of legal certainty – Infringement – No infringement

   (European Parliament Bureau Decision concerning implementing measures for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament, Art. 75; Rules governing the payment of expenses and allowances to Members of the European Parliament, Annex III, Art. 2(1))

   (see paragraphs 123-128)

See the text of the decision.