Avis juridique important

61963O0098

European Court reports French edition Page 00553 Dutch edition Page 00561 German edition Page 00603 Italian edition Page 00547 English special edition Page 00276

Parties

IN JOINED CASES 98/63 R AND 99/63 R

PIERO ERBA, OFFICIAL OF THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY,

JEAN REYNIER, OFFICIAL OF THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY,

REPRESENTED AND ASSISTED BY M . SLUSNY, ADVOCATE AT THE COUR D'APPEL, BRUSSELS, AND HEAD OF DEPARTMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BRUSSELS, WITH AN ADDRESS FOR SERVICE IN LUXEMBOURG AT THE CHAMBERS OF E . ARENDT, AVOCAT-AVOUE, 6 RUE WILLY-GOERGEN, APPLICANTS,

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY DEFENDANT,

REPRESENTED BY ITS LEGAL ADVISER, LOUIS DE LA FONTAINE, APPOINTED AGENT FOR THIS PURPOSE BY THE COMMISSION, WITH AN ADDRESS FOR SERVICE AT THE OFFICES OF HENRI MANZANARES, SECRETARY OF THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT OF THE EUROPEAN EXECUTIVES, 2 PLACE DE METZ, LUXEMBOURG,

Subject of the case

APPLICATION TO SUSPEND THE OPERATION OF THE MEASURE CONTESTED IN THE MAIN ACTION,

Grounds

WHEREAS THE APPLICATIONS FOR SUSPENSION OF THE OPERATION OF THE SAID MEASURE ARE MOTIVATED BY THE FEAR THAT THE DEFENDANT COMMISSION, IN THE EVENT OF THE COURT'S DECLARING THAT THE APPLICATIONS IN CASES 79/63 AND 82/63, BROUGHT BY THE SAME APPLICANTS, ARE WELL - FOUNDED AND CONFIRMING THAT MESSRS ERBA AND REYNIER ARE ENTITLED TO BE CLASSIFIED IN GRADE A 3 WITH EFFECT FROM 1 JANUARY 1962, MIGHT EVADE ITS OBLIGATIONS BY CLAIMING THAT IT NO LONGER HAS ANY VACANT POSTS IN GRADE A 3 IN THE DETAILED LIST OF POSTS MENTIONED IN ARTICLE 6 OF THE EEC STAFF REGULATIONS;

WHEREAS TO AVOID THIS DANGER, THE APPLICANTS REQUEST THAT THE COMMISSION BE ORDERED TO REFRAIN FROM FILLING THE GRADE A 3 POST FOR WHICH THE COMPETITION IS BEING HELD;

WHEREAS THE DEFENDANT'S REPRESENTATIVE STATED DURING THE HEARING THAT IF THE COURT DECLARES THE APPLICATIONS IN CASES 79/63 AND 82/63 WELL-FOUNDED, THE COMMISSION WILL GIVE EFFECT TO THE JUDGMENT AND CLASSIFY THE APPLICANTS IN GRADE A 3 WITH EFFECT FROM 1 JANUARY 1962;

WHEREAS THIS CLEAR AND UNEQUIVOCAL STATEMENT SATISFIES THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMMISSION UNDER ARTICLE 176 OF THE TREATY;

WHEREAS IT IS FOR THE COMMISSION ITSELF TO DECIDE THE MANNER IN WHICH IT WILL GIVE EFFECT TO THE JUDGMENTS OF THE COURT, AND THERE IS NO NEED TO LAY DOWN IN ADVANCE BY MEANS OF AN INTERLOCUTORY ORDER THE METHODS FOR GIVING EFFECT TO THE JUDGMENT;

WHEREAS, MOREOVER, THE ABOVE-MENTIONED STATEMENT CONFIRMS THAT TO CARRY OUT THE COMPETITION PROCEDURE WILL NOT PREJUDICE THE APPLICANTS AS REGARDS THEIR APPLICATIONS IN CASES 79/63 AND 82/63 SO THAT IN THIS RESPECT THEIR REQUESTS FOR THE SUSPENSION OF THE OPERATION OF THE MEASURE ARE DIVESTED OF ALL LEGAL INTEREST;

WHEREAS, FURTHERMORE, IN THESE APPLICATIONS FOR SUSPENSION OF THE SAID MEASURE, THE APPLICANTS ALLEGE IN SUPPORT OF THEIR REQUESTS THAT THERE ARE IRREGULARITIES IN THE COMPETITION PROCEDURE AS PUBLISHED BY THE COMMISSION AND THEY ALSO RELY ON THESE IRREGULARITIES IN THEIR CLAIMS;

WHEREAS, HOWEVER, THE ALLEGATIONS WHICH THEY MAKE CONCERNING THESE ARE EXTREMELY GENERAL IN NATURE, AND SINCE AN EXAMINATION OF THEM WOULD INVOLVE FUNDAMENTAL LEGAL PRINCIPLES, IT CANNOT BE CARRIED OUT IN THE CONTEXT OF PROCEEDINGS FOR THE ADOPTION OF AN INTERIM MEASURE;

WHEREAS, LASTLY, IT IS NOT DISPUTED IN THIS MATTER THAT THE APPLICANTS DID NOT ENTER THE COMPETITION MENTIONED ABOVE AND CONSEQUENTLY THE ALLEGED IRREGULARITIES ARE NOT SUCH AS MAY CAUSE THEM DIRECT AND PERSONAL DAMAGE;

WHEREAS IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES THERE IS NO GROUND FOR GRANTING THE SUSPENSION REQUESTED;

Operative part

THE PRESIDENT OF THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES MAKES THE FOLLOWING ORDER.

2. THE COSTS ARE RESERVED.