{"id":2511,"date":"2023-04-24T10:46:44","date_gmt":"2023-04-24T09:46:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unionsyndicale.eu\/agora_article\/les-grands-arrets-de-la-cour-de-justice-en-matiere-de-personnel\/"},"modified":"2023-07-24T15:19:17","modified_gmt":"2023-07-24T14:19:17","slug":"the-major-rulings-of-the-court-of-justice-in-personnel-matters","status":"publish","type":"agora_article","link":"https:\/\/unionsyndicale.eu\/en\/agora_article\/the-major-rulings-of-the-court-of-justice-in-personnel-matters\/","title":{"rendered":"The major rulings of the Court of Justice in personnel matters"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"l-section wpb_row height_auto\"><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols vc_row via_flex valign_top type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"vc_col-sm-1 wpb_column vc_column_container prevcolumn hide_on_tablets hide_on_mobiles has_bg_color stretched\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner us_custom_7de2aec7\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"w-iconbox iconpos_left style_default color_primary align_right no_text\"><div class=\"w-iconbox-icon\" style=\"font-size:1em;\"><i class=\"far fa-arrow-left\"><\/i><\/div><div class=\"w-iconbox-meta\"><span class=\"w-iconbox-title\">Previous<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_col-sm-10 wpb_column vc_column_container hide_on_tablets hide_on_mobiles\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><h1 class=\"w-post-elm post_title us_custom_9bb7a90a entry-title color_link_inherit\">The major rulings of the Court of Justice in personnel matters<\/h1><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_col-sm-12 wpb_column vc_column_container hide_on_default hide_on_laptops\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><div class=\"w-hwrapper valign_middle align_center\" style=\"--hwrapper-gap:1rem\"><div class=\"w-iconbox iconpos_left style_default color_primary align_right no_text\"><div class=\"w-iconbox-icon\" style=\"font-size:1em;\"><i class=\"far fa-arrow-left\"><\/i><\/div><div class=\"w-iconbox-meta\"><span class=\"w-iconbox-title\">Previous<\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-iconbox iconpos_right style_default color_primary align_left no_text\"><div class=\"w-iconbox-meta\"><span class=\"w-iconbox-title\">Next<\/span><\/div><div class=\"w-iconbox-icon\" style=\"font-size:1em;\"><i class=\"far fa-arrow-right\"><\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><h1 class=\"w-post-elm post_title us_custom_9bb7a90a entry-title color_link_inherit\">The major rulings of the Court of Justice in personnel matters<\/h1><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_col-sm-1 wpb_column vc_column_container nextcolumn hide_on_tablets hide_on_mobiles has_bg_color stretched\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner us_custom_7de2aec7\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"w-iconbox iconpos_right style_default color_primary align_left no_text\"><div class=\"w-iconbox-meta\"><span class=\"w-iconbox-title\">Next<\/span><\/div><div class=\"w-iconbox-icon\" style=\"font-size:1em;\"><i class=\"far fa-arrow-right\"><\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"l-section wpb_row height_auto\"><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols vc_row via_flex valign_top type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"vc_col-sm-1 wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_col-sm-10 wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"w-hwrapper valign_middle align_center\" style=\"--hwrapper-gap:0rem\"><div class=\"w-post-elm post_taxonomy us_custom_acdd79d8 has_text_color style_simple color_link_inherit\"><span class=\"term-79 term-agora-88-en\">Agora #88<\/span><\/div><div class=\"w-post-elm post_custom_field us_custom_a518f2fa redlinebefore has_text_color type_text page_numbers color_link_inherit\"><span class=\"w-post-elm-value\">Pages 24 - 29<\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><p class=\"w-post-elm post_custom_field us_custom_58b1af09 type_text short_description color_link_inherit\"><span class=\"w-post-elm-value\">For almost thirty years now, Union Syndicale has organised free legal advice for its members and provides them with technical, legal and financial support before and during litigation proceedings, and with submitting complaints to the European Ombudsman. <\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_col-sm-1 wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"l-section wpb_row height_medium\"><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols vc_row via_flex valign_top type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"vc_col-sm-8 wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column us_custom_6745946f has_text_color\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><h4>Right to information and negotiation<\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><div class=\"g-cols wpb_row via_flex valign_top type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"vc_col-sm-6 wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>In 1981, Union Syndicale negotiated the Method for the automatic adjustment of EU officials and other agents\u2019 salaries with the European Council. An article published by Mr G\u00fcnther Lorenz retraces the ups and downs of this long-drawn-out negotiation process. Following the agreement reached, on 15 December 1981 the Council adopted the Method for the automatic adjustment of salaries. In return, Union Syndicale accepted that a special levy- the name of which has changed over time-be introduced in order to take account of the specific difficulties of the economic and social situation within the Member States and undertook to maintain social order within the EU\u2019s institutions. Thanks to the implementation of this new Method, employee\u2019s purchasing power has been maintained at the same level for almost forty years.<\/p>\n<p>When an appeal was introduced before the Court of Justice against this special levy, and thus against this Method, Union Syndicale intervened in support of the Commission and the Council. In its judgement of 3 July 1985, the Court of Justice (Grand Chamber) approved the Method, acknowledging that it was the result of an agreement reached after long negotiations between the EU institutions and the most representative trade union organisations of EU staff. The Court of Justice thus formally recognised the role of trade unions and staff associations in defending the interests of employees and the obligation of the EU institutions to respect\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/curia.europa.eu\/juris\/showPdf.jsf?text=&amp;docid=92328&amp;doclang=EN%20Case%20C-3\/83,%20Abrias%20v%20Commission,%20supported%20by%20the%20Council%20of%20the%20European%20Communities%20and%20Union%20Syndicale;\">their activities<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_col-sm-6 wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-3 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\">\n<div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start\">\n<div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-2 fusion_builder_column_3_4 3_4 fusion-flex-column\">\n<div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\">\n<div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-3 fusion-text-split-columns fusion-text-columns-2\">\n<p>In its judgement of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/curia.europa.eu\/juris\/showPdf.jsf?text=&amp;docid=95439&amp;doclang=EN%20Cases%20C-193\/87%20and%20C-194\/87,%20Maurissen%20and%20European%20Public%20Service%20Union%20(Union%20Syndicale)%20v%20Court%20of%20Auditors.\">18 January 1990<\/a>\u00a0and sitting as a Grand Chamber, the Court of Justice stated that the freedom to form trade unions provided the latter with the possibility of taking in part in technical and political consultations prior to the adoption of any proposed regulations amending the Staff Regulations of officials and the Conditions of employment of other servants.<\/p>\n<p>The Court of Justice thus specified the scope of article 24b of the Staff Regulations, which recognises that officials are entitled to exercise the right of association. This right has since been enshrined by articles 27 and 28 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (hereinafter \u201cthe Charter\u201d). The Court specified that the freedom to form trade unions means that the institutions are required to respect the trade union activities that may prove necessary in order to ensure the effective participation of personnel in the consultation process and that trade union and staff association representatives should benefit from time off work according to the terms to be defined by the institutions. Following this decision, the EU institutions signed the framework agreements with the trade unions and staff associations outlining the resources at their disposal to carry out, in the interests of all EU personnel, their activities in support of personnel and, in particular, allowing for their involvement in political and technical discussions and for the representation of personnel on the various joint committees, including the Joint Promotion Committee.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_col-sm-4 wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"w-image cornerleftbottom has_ratio align_none\"><div class=\"w-image-h\"><div style=\"padding-bottom:133.3333%\"><\/div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"283\" height=\"424\" src=\"https:\/\/unionsyndicale.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Fotolia_20620925_XS.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"l-section wpb_row height_auto\"><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols vc_row via_flex valign_top type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"vc_col-sm-12 wpb_column vc_column_container cornerlefttop has_bg_color\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner us_custom_5dc3df59\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"g-cols wpb_row via_flex valign_middle type_boxes stacking_default\"><div class=\"vc_col-sm-12 wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column us_custom_6745946f has_text_color\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><h4>The right to respect for private life<\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-5 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\">\n<div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start\">\n<div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-6 fusion_builder_column_3_4 3_4 fusion-flex-column\">\n<div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\">\n<div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-5\">\n<p>In its judgement on appeal of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/curia.europa.eu\/juris\/showPdf.jsf?text=&amp;docid=98823&amp;pageIndex=0&amp;doclang=EN&amp;mode=lst&amp;dir=&amp;occ=first&amp;part=1&amp;cid=757576,%20Case%20C-404\/92%20P,%20X%20v%20Commission.\">5 October 1994<\/a>\u00a0, the Court of Justice recalled that the right to respect for private life, which includes in particular a person\u2019 s right to keep their state of health secret, constitutes one of the fundamental rights protected by the legal order of the European Union. In the case in question, the appellant had been offered a temporary contract as an agent for a duration of six months. The Court of Justice found that he had not given his informed consent to undergo a medical test that was carried out without his knowledge and therefore overturned the decision of the Commission not to hire him on the grounds that he did not meet the physical fitness conditions. The Court stated that although the pre-recruitment examination serves a legitimate interest of the EU institutions, that interest does not justify the carrying out of a test against the will of the person concerned.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"l-section wpb_row height_medium\"><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols vc_row via_flex valign_top type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"vc_col-sm-8 wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column us_custom_6745946f has_text_color\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><h4>Cover against the risk of illness<\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><div class=\"g-cols wpb_row via_flex valign_top type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"vc_col-sm-6 wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>The applicant was employed by the Commission as a member of the local staff for over two years and then as a member of the auxiliary staff for three years on a fixed-term contract, which was renewed ten times and under which the applicant was covered against the risk of illness by the Belgian social security system. The applicant was subsequently employed by the Commission as a member of the contract staff for auxiliary tasks for an additional fixed period of three years. However, the Commission applied a deferral clause with respect to the applicant\u2019s health benefits due to an illness that was declared when the applicant was working as a member of the auxiliary staff.<\/p>\n<p>Union Syndicale provided its support to the applicant on a human, technical and financial level, considering that they could not justifiably be left without medical cover for their declared illness as they had already been working for the institution for several years and were covered by the Belgian social security system.<\/p>\n<p>In its judgement of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/curia.europa.eu\/juris\/document\/document.jsf?text=&amp;docid=78341&amp;pageIndex=0&amp;doclang=EN&amp;mode=lst&amp;dir=&amp;occ=first&amp;part=1&amp;cid=345978,%20O%20v%20Commission,%20Joined%20Cases%20F-69\/07%20and%20F-60\/08;\">29 September 2009<\/a>\u00a0, the European Union Civil Service Tribunal (hereinafter the \u201cEUCST\u201d) ruled that an EU national working in a Member State other than his State of origin does not lose his status of worker, within the meaning of article 45 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, through occupying a position within the EU and that, on that basis, they may not be refused the rights and social advantages provided by that article.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_col-sm-6 wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-7 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\">\n<div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start\">\n<div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-9 fusion_builder_column_3_4 3_4 fusion-flex-column\">\n<div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\">\n<div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-7 fusion-text-split-columns fusion-text-columns-2\">\n<p>The EUCST also recalled that it is precisely in order to ensure that the exercise of the right to freedom of movement does not have the effect of depriving a worker of social security advantages to which they are entitled that the EU legislative bodies implemented the rule on the aggregation of insurance, residence and employment periods in the area of social security (Council Regulation [EEC] No 1408\/71 of 14 June 1971).<\/p>\n<p>It found that the medical deferral clause (articles 32 and 100 of the CEOS) should be interpreted with regard to the requirements deriving from-particularly in the area of social security-the principle of freedom of movement for workers, which is part of the foundations of the EU. The Tribunal noted that the application of article 100 of the CEOS penalised the appellant by depriving them of cover against the risk of illness and was therefore such as to produce a deterrent effect, as well as liable to impede the exercise of the right to the freedom of movement by the appellant. Having declared unlawful the deferral of the appellant\u2019s medical cover, the Tribunal annulled the Commission\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_col-sm-4 wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"w-image cornerleftbottom has_ratio align_none\"><div class=\"w-image-h\"><div style=\"padding-bottom:133.3333%\"><\/div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"334\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/unionsyndicale.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/AdobeStock_241540302-334x500-1.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"l-section wpb_row height_small\"><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols vc_row via_flex valign_top type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"vc_col-sm-12 wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column us_custom_6745946f has_text_color\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><h4>Registered partnership<\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><div class=\"g-cols wpb_row via_flex valign_top type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"vc_col-sm-8 wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>Following the accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden to the EU, an EU official of Swedish nationality, who was recognised as a registered partner under Swedish national law, saw their application for the household allowance rejected on the ground that this status was not covered by the Staff Regulations. In its judgement on appeal of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/curia.europa.eu\/juris\/showPdf.jsf?text=&amp;docid=46555&amp;pageIndex=0&amp;doclang=EN&amp;mode=lst&amp;dir=&amp;occ=first&amp;part=1&amp;cid=827965;%20Cases%20C-122\/99%20P%20and%20C-125\/99%20P,%20D%20and%20Kingdom%20of%20Sweden%20v%20Council.\">31 May 2001<\/a>\u00a0, the Court of Justice rejected the appeal on the grounds that the contested decision did not breach the principle of integrity of a person\u2019s status and did not constitute discrimination on grounds of sex, an infringement of the principle of equal treatment or a restriction of the free movement of workers.<br \/>\nThe reasons for the dismissal of this appeal nevertheless played an important role in the adoption of Council Regulation (EC) No. 723\/2004 of 22 March 2004 amending the Staff Regulations and, in particular, article 1 of Annex VII which grants the household allocation to officials and agents registered as being in a stable partnership.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_col-sm-4 wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"w-image cornerrighttop has_ratio align_none\"><div class=\"w-image-h\"><div style=\"padding-bottom:71.4286%\"><\/div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/unionsyndicale.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/ExitStudioLeul-0167-500x333-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"l-section wpb_row height_small\"><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols vc_row via_flex valign_top type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"vc_col-sm-12 wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column us_custom_6745946f has_text_color\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><h4>Recognition of a serious illness<\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><div class=\"g-cols wpb_row via_flex valign_top type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"vc_col-sm-4 wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"w-image cornerrighttop has_ratio align_none\"><div class=\"w-image-h\"><div style=\"padding-bottom:71.4286%\"><\/div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"424\" height=\"283\" src=\"https:\/\/unionsyndicale.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Fotolia_109535627_XS.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_col-sm-8 wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>On\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/curia.europa.eu\/juris\/document\/document.jsf?text=&amp;docid=177381&amp;pageIndex=0&amp;doclang=fr&amp;mode=lst&amp;dir=&amp;occ=first&amp;part=1&amp;cid=467686%20(in%20French%20only),%20Case%20F-76\/15,%20FY%20v%20Council;\">28 April 2016<\/a>\u00a0, the EUCST handed down a particularly important judgement regarding the reimbursement of medical expenses and the recognition of a serious illness. In this judgement, it recalled that, under the terms of article 24 of the Charter, in all actions relating to children, the child\u2019s best interests must be a primary consideration. It then stated that any decision relating to the recognition of the existence of a serious illness must be founded on medical opinions formed on the basis an effective examination of the health of the person concerned, and that this examination must be appropriate to the circumstances at hand, taking into account in general the medical criteria provided for by law. Lastly, the EUCST recalled that the medical officer is obliged to explain their opinion in order to allow the person concerned by the decision to know the real reasons and to ensure that all parties can make their views known in the proceedings. The Tribunal found that the reasons for this decision were both flawed and contradictory and therefore called for it to be annulled.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"l-section wpb_row height_small\"><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols vc_row via_flex valign_top type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"vc_col-sm-12 wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column us_custom_6745946f has_text_color\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><h4>Right to paid annual leave<\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><div class=\"g-cols wpb_row via_flex valign_top type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"vc_col-sm-8 wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-13 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\">\n<div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start\">\n<div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-17 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\">\n<div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\">\n<div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-13 fusion-text-split-columns fusion-text-columns-2\">\n<p>In its judgement of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/curia.europa.eu\/juris\/document\/document.jsf?text=&amp;docid=141785&amp;pageIndex=0&amp;doclang=EN&amp;mode=lst&amp;dir=&amp;occ=first&amp;part=1&amp;cid=495427;%20Case%20C-579\/12%20RX-II,%20Commission%20v%20Strack.\">19 September 2013<\/a>\u00a0, the Court of Justice reviewed the judgement of the EU Tribunal on appeal. This review procedure was exceptional and was only carried out following a proposal by the First Advocate General of the Court, who considered it necessary to revise the judgement of the EU Tribunal following the appeal of a judgement of the EUCST. This procedure no longer exists since the EUCST was dissolved.<\/p>\n<p>In this judgement, the Court of Justice found that, based on the general principle of interpretation, the EU Tribunal, ruling on appeal, had made an error of law by not favouring an interpretation of article 1e(2) of the Staff Regulations, which ensures the consistency of that provision with the right to paid annual leave as a principle of the social law of the European Union, now affirmed by article 31(2) of the Charter. The Court specifies that this provision should be interpreted to the effect that it allows the inclusion in the Staff Regulations and the CEOS of the substance of article 7 of Directive 2003\/88 as a rule of minimum protection, supplementing the other provisions of the Staff Regulations dealing with the right to paid annual leave and, in particular, article 4 of Annex V to those regulations.<\/p>\n<p>This judgement is remarkable in that it recalls the principles of interpretation of a statutory or regulatory provision applicable to EU staff and the necessity to ensure that its interpretation is consistent with the principles of EU social law affirmed by the Charter and directives, which must be respected by the institutions of the EU, even though the directives are addressed to the Member States.<\/p>\n<p>The Tribunal thus referred to the principle of sincere cooperation, which was reiterated by the EUCST in its judgement of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/curia.europa.eu\/juris\/document\/document.jsf?text=&amp;docid=75437&amp;pageIndex=0&amp;doclang=fr&amp;mode=lst&amp;dir=&amp;occ=first&amp;part=1&amp;cid=486632%20(in%20French);%20Case%20F-134\/07,%20Adjemain%20and%20Others%20v%20Commission;\">4 June 2009<\/a>\u00a0. This principle, which is outlined in article 4(3) of the EU Treaty, not only obliges the Member States to take the appropriate measures to guarantee the application and effectiveness of EU law, but also requires the institutions of the European Union to act in accordance with their mutual duties of sincere cooperation with the Member States and the other institutions themselves. The EUCST noted that, in this respect, it was the institutions\u2019 responsibility to ensure, as far as possible, consistency between their internal conduct and their legislative action at EU level, in particular addressed to the Member States.<\/p>\n<p>As such, the EU institutions must take into account, in their behaviour as employers, any legislative provisions imposing in particular minimum requirements designed to improve the living and working conditions of workers in the Member States by harmonising national laws and practices, as well as the will of the EU legislative bodies to make employment stability a major objective with regard to labour relations within the EU. The EUCST also recalled that this obligation was even more binding as administrative reform had increased the tendency to employ staff on a contractual basis within the European civil service. These principles were recalled by the EU Tribunal in its judgement of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/curia.europa.eu\/juris\/document\/document.jsf?text=&amp;docid=109861&amp;pageIndex=0&amp;doclang=EN&amp;mode=lst&amp;dir=&amp;occ=first&amp;part=1&amp;cid=484423;%20Case%20T%20325\/09%20P,%20Adjemain%20and%20Others%20v%20Commission;\">21 September 2011<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_col-sm-4 wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"w-image cornerrighttop has_ratio align_none\"><div class=\"w-image-h\"><div style=\"padding-bottom:71.4286%\"><\/div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/unionsyndicale.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/AdobeStock_107016749-500x333-1.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"l-section wpb_row height_medium\"><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols vc_row via_flex valign_top type_boxes stacking_default\"><div class=\"vc_col-sm-12 wpb_column vc_column_container cornerlefttop has_bg_color\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner us_custom_5dc3df59\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column us_custom_6745946f has_text_color\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><h4>Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to Remuneration<\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><div class=\"g-cols wpb_row via_flex valign_top type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"vc_col-sm-6 wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>On\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/curia.europa.eu\/juris\/document\/document.jsf?text=&amp;docid=199684&amp;pageIndex=0&amp;doclang=fr&amp;mode=lst&amp;dir=&amp;occ=first&amp;part=1&amp;cid=351060%20(in%20French);%20Case%20T%20338\/16%20P,%20Zink%20v%20Commission.\">27 February 2018<\/a>\u00a0, the Appeal Chamber of the Tribunal issued an important judgement that specifies the scope of an official or agent\u2019s rights regarding the payment of a portion of remuneration that was not paid due to an encoding error. In the case in question, the official\u2019s remuneration had varied significantly as a result of successive assignments outside and within the European Union.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, he held a number of important positions in particularly difficult conditions. As a result of these very specific and complicated working conditions, he did not notice the encoding error made by the payroll department of the Commission in drawing up his pay slips. The Commission acknowledged that it had indeed made a mistake, but refused to pay the appellant all of the remuneration to which he was entitled on the ground that he had not contested his first irregular pay slip within the three-month complaint period.<\/p>\n<p>In its judgement on appeal, the EU Tribunal annulled the judgement delivered in the first set of proceedings by the EUCST and, ruling on the merits, overruled the Commission\u2019s refusal to pay the balance of the remuneration due, finding that, in the present case, the amounts necessary for the payment had been reserved and that there was no risk of jeopardising the legal situation as a result.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_col-sm-6 wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>The Court concluded that the Commission could not plead infringement of the principle of a reasonable period of time and thus clarified the scope of article 62 of the Staff Regulations, which provides, inter alia, that an official who is duly appointed shall be entitled to remuneration and that they cannot waive their entitlement to said remuneration.<\/p>\n<p>In compliance with the judgement of the Tribunal, the Commission paid the official the balance of the remuneration due, together with the default interest and defence costs relating to the appeal and first instance proceedings. Certain EU institutions systematically refuse to enter into discussions with their employees and automatically reject any claims made by their officials. In my opinion, refusing any form of negotiation does not serve to motivate staff or strengthen mutual trust. It also entails significant budget costs for the EU, which bears the operating costs not only of the departments of the institutions responsible for managing the high, if not excessive, number of pre-litigation procedures, but also of the departments of the Court of Justice.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The abovementioned judgements are just a sample of the many cases Union Syndicale has directly or indirectly supported, both to defend the interests of individuals and the general interest.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"l-section wpb_row height_auto\"><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols vc_row via_flex valign_top type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"vc_col-sm-2 wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"w-image us_custom_3880b28b cornerbottomright has_ratio align_none\"><div class=\"w-image-h\"><div style=\"padding-bottom:100%\"><\/div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/unionsyndicale.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_1481-500x333-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_col-sm-10 wpb_column vc_column_container cornerleftbottom\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner us_custom_77db9625\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><h4>Ma\u00eetre Jean-No\u00ebl Louis<\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column us_custom_fc36dcad\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><h6>About this Author<\/h6>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"fusion-row\">\n<div id=\"content\" class=\"portfolio-full\">\n<article id=\"post-17319\" class=\"post-17319 avada_portfolio type-avada_portfolio status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry\">\n<div class=\"project-content\">\n<div class=\"project-description post-content\">\n<div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-17 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\">\n<div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start\">\n<div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-24 fusion_builder_column_1_2 1_2 fusion-flex-column\">\n<div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\">\n<div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-16\">\n<p>Louis European Law Firm<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"agora_edition":[79],"class_list":["post-2511","agora_article","type-agora_article","status-publish","hentry","agora_edition-agora-88-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - 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