Article 17 - Right to property
Article 39 - Right to vote and to stand as a candidate at elections to the European Parliament
Article 52 - Scope and interpretation
Key facts of the case:
The Estonian Green Party submitted candidates to the election to the European Parliament in 2024. The Electoral Commission registered two candidates but did not register seven other persons as the deposit of 4100 Euros per candidate had not been paid. The Electoral Commission dismissed the complaint and the case was referred automatically to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court expressed doubts as to whether Article 29 (5) of the European Parliament Election Act (Euroopa Parlamendi valimise seadus) is compatible with EU law. The respective provision stipulates: ‘Before nominating candidates, a political party or an independent candidate deposits an amount equal to five minimum monthly wages as established by the Government of the Republic, for each person nominated, in the current account of the Ministry of Finance as a deposit’. The Court made a request for a preliminary ruling to the CJEU and, acknowledging that the response will take time, instructed the Commission to register the candidates as a preliminary measure.
Key legal question raised by the Court:
The Supreme Court asked the CJEU the following question: Must Article 17(1), first sentence, and Article 39(2), read in conjunction with Article 52(1), of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union be interpreted as precluding an obligation, in order to stand in elections to the European Parliament, to pay a deposit amounting to five times the fixed monthly minimum wage for each person nominated for registration and forty-five times the fixed monthly minimum wage for a party’s full list?
Outcome of the case:
The case is pending before the CJEU. The domestic proceedings were stayed by the resolution of the Supreme Court from 31 May 2024 The Court instructed the Electoral Commission to register the candidates.
16. As the restriction is so significant, it also violates the right of Estonian citizens and other EU citizens to run for election in the European Parliament, which stems from Article 39 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
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49. At the same time, the European Court also emphasized the need to effectively ensure the right to stand as a candidate, which is provided under the Charter.
53. Pursuant to Article 52(1) of the Charter, the exercise of such rights and freedoms, as recognized in Article 39(2) of the Charter, may be limited only if the limitations are set by law, the nature of said rights and freedoms is taken into account, the principle of proportionality is followed and the limitations are necessary and actually meet the goals of general interest recognized by the EU or the need to protect the rights and freedoms of others.
54. Therefore, when assessing the compliance of the European Parliament’s election bail requirement with EU law, it is also necessary to take into account what follows from Article 52(3) of the Charter, which stipulates that the meaning and scope of such rights contained in the Charter, which correspond to the rights guaranteed by the ECHR, are the same as those specified by the Convention is provided for.
16. Kuna piirang on sedavõrd intensiivne, rikub see ka Euroopa Liidu põhiõiguste harta (ELPH) artiklist 39 tulenevat Eesti kodanike ja teiste EL-i kodanike õigust EP valimistel kandideerida.
49. Samas rõhutas Euroopa Kohus ka hartast tuleneva kandideerimisõiguse tõhusa tagamise vajadust.
53. ELPH artikli 52 lõike 1 kohaselt tohib selliste õiguste ja vabaduste teostamist, nagu on tunnustatud harta artikli 39 lõikes 2, piirata vaid siis, kui piirangud on seatud seadusega, arvestatud on nimetatud õiguste ja vabaduste olemust, järgitud on proportsionaalsuse põhimõtet ja piirangud on vajalikud ning vastavad tegelikult EL-i poolt tunnustatud üldise huvi eesmärkidele või vajadusele kaitsta teiste isikute õigusi ja vabadusi.
54. Seetõttu tuleb EP valimiste kautsjoninõude EL-i õigusele vastavuse hindamisel arvestada ka ELPH artikli 52 lõikest 3 tulenevat, mis näeb ette, et hartas sisalduvate selliste õiguste tähendus ja ulatus, mis vastavad EIÕK-ga tagatud õigustele, on samad, mis neile nimetatud konventsiooniga ette on nähtud.