Judgment of the Court (Grand Chamber) of 22 June 2021 — Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela v Council of the European Union

(Case C-872/19 P) (1)

(Appeal - Common foreign and security policy (CFSP) - Restrictive measures taken with regard to the situation in Venezuela - Action for annulment brought by a third State - Admissibility - Fourth paragraph of Article 263 TFEU - Locus standi - Condition that the applicant must be directly concerned by the measure that forms the subject matter of the action - Concept of a ‘legal person’ - Interest in bringing proceedings - Regulatory act which does not entail implementing measures)

(2021/C 320/07)

Language of the case: English

Parties

Appellant: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (represented by: L. Giuliano and F. Di Gianni, avvocati)

Other party to the proceedings: Council of the European Union (represented by: P. Mahnič and A. Antoniadis, acting as Agents)

Operative part of the judgment

The Court:

1.

Sets aside the judgment of the General Court of the European Union of 20 September 2019, Venezuela v Council (T-65/18, EU:T:2019:649), in so far as it dismisses the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela’s action for annulment of Articles 2, 3, 6 and 7 of Council Regulation (EU) 2017/2063 of 13 November 2017 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela;

2.	Refers the case back to the General Court of the European Union for judgment on the merits;

3.	Reserves the costs.

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(1)  OJ C 45, 10.2.2020.