Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 13 December 2018 –
UP v Commission

(Case T‑706/17)

(Civil service — Officials — Serious illness — Application f for part-time work on medical grounds — Rejection of the application — Principle of non-discrimination on grounds of disability — Right to be heard — Principle of sound administration — Duty of care — Liability)

1. 

Actions brought by officials — Action against a decision rejecting a complaint — Effect — Disputed measure referred to the Court — Exception — Decision not confirmatory in character — Account taken of the reasoning therein

(Staff Regulations of Officials, Arts 90 and 91)

(see paras 12-14)

2. 

Officials — Equal treatment — Discrimination — General implementing provisions adopted by the Commission — Handicap — Obligation to provide for reasonable working arrangements — Scope — Grant of part-time work for medical reasons — Treatment

(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 21; Staff Regulations of Officials, Arts 1d(1), first para. and 4; Council Directive 2000/78, Recital 20 and Art. 5)

(see paras 25-28, 33, 34, 46, 47)

3. 

Officials — Principles — Rights of defence — Obligation to hear the person concerned before adopting a measure adversely affecting him — Scope

(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(2)(a))

(see paras 51-55)

4. 

Officials — Administration’s duty to have regard for the interests of officials — Scope — Limits

(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41)

(see paras 59-61)

5. 

Officials — Non-contractual liability of the institutions — Conditions — Unlawfulness — Injury — Causal link — Cumulative conditions

(Art. 340, second para. TFEU)

(see para. 72)

6. 

Actions brought by officials — Compensation action brought without pre-litigation procedure in accordance with the Staff Regulations — Inadmissibility

(Staff Regulations of Officials, Arts 90 and 91)

(see paras 76-79)

Re:

Application based on Article 270 TFEU and seeking, first, annulment of the Commission Decision of 26 April 2017 refusing to grant the applicant part-time work on medical grounds and, secondly, compensation for the material and non-material harm allegedly suffered by the applicant.

Operative part

The Court:

1. 

Dismisses the action;

2. 

Orders UP to bear his own costs as well as those incurred by the European Commission.