Case C-337/15 P /Judgment

Key facts of the case:

Appeal — Non-contractual liability of the European Union — Handling by the European Ombudsman of a complaint concerning the management of a list of suitable candidates in an open competition — Breaches of the duty to act diligently — Concept of a ‘sufficiently serious breach’ of a rule of EU law — Non-material damage — Loss of confidence in the office of the European Ombudsman.

 

Outcome of the case:

On those grounds, the Court (Grand Chamber) hereby:

1. Declares the application made by Ms Claire Staelen in her response for the European Ombudsman to be ordered to pay her compensation in the amount of EUR 50000 inadmissible;
2. Sets aside points 1, 3 and 4 of the operative part of the judgment of the General Court of the European Union of 29 April 2015, Staelen v Ombudsman (T‑217/11, EU:T:2015:238);
3. Orders the European Ombudsman to pay Ms Claire Staelen compensation in the amount of EUR 7000;
4. Orders Ms Claire Staelen to bear her own costs and to pay those incurred by the European Ombudsman in relation to the cross-appeal, dismissed by order of 29 June 2016, Ombudsman v Staelen (C‑337/15 P, not published, EU:C:2016:670);
5. Orders the European Ombudsman to bear her own costs and to pay those incurred by Ms Claire Staelen in relation both to the proceedings at first instance and to the main appeal.