Judgment of the General Court of 9 July 2025 – Almaghout v Council

(Case T-437/23)  (1)

(Common foreign and security policy - Restrictive measures adopted in view of the situation in Syria - Freezing of funds - List of persons, entities and bodies subject to the freezing of funds and economic resources - Restrictions on entry into the territory of the Member States - List of persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictions on entry into the territory of the Member States - Maintenance of the applicant’s name on the lists - Error of assessment)

(C/2025/4755)

Language of the case: English

Parties

Applicant: Hala Almaghout [confidential] (represented by: M. Lester, D. Birdling, Barristers-at-Law, and G. Symeonidis, lawyer)

Defendant: Council of the European Union (represented by: T. Haas and B. Driessen, acting as Agents)

Intervener in support of the defendant: Republic of Austria (represented by: C. Pesendorfer, J. Schmoll and C. Leeb, acting as Agents)

Re:

By her action under Article 263 TFEU, the applicant seeks annulment of (i) Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/1035 of 25 May 2023 amending Decision 2013/255/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria (OJ 2023 L 139, p. 49) and Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1027 of 25 May 2023 implementing Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria (OJ 2023 L 139, p. 1) and (ii) Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/1510 of 27 May 2024 amending Decision 2013/255/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria (OJ L, 2024/1510) and Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1517 of 27 May 2024 implementing Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria (OJ L, 2024/1517), in so far as those acts concern her.

Operative part of the judgment

The Court:

1.

Annuls Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/1035 of 25 May 2023 amending Decision 2013/255/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria and Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1027 of 25 May 2023 implementing Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria, in so far as they concern Ms Hala Almaghout;

2.

Annuls Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/1510 of 27 May 2024 amending Decision 2013/255/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria and Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1517 of 27 May 2024 implementing Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria, in so far as they concern Ms Almaghout;

3.	Orders the Council of the European Union to bear its own costs and to pay the costs of Ms Almaghout;

4.	Orders the Republic of Austria to bear its own costs.

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(1)   OJ C 321, 11.9.2023.