Judgment of the Court (Fifth Chamber) of 24 February 2022 (request for a preliminary ruling from the Tribunal du travail francophone de Bruxelles — Belgium) — CO and Others v MJ, European Commission, European External Action Service (EEAS), Council of the European Union, Eulex Kosovo

(Case C-283/20) (1)

(Reference for a preliminary ruling - Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) - European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (Eulex Kosovo) - Joint Action 2008/124/CFSP - Article 8(3) and (5), Article 9(3) and Article 10(3) - Status of employer of the mission staff - Article 16(5) - Subrogation)

(2022/C 165/08)

Language of the case: French

Referring court

Tribunal du travail francophone de Bruxelles

Parties to the main proceedings

Applicants: CO and Others

Defendants: MJ, European Commission, European External Action Service, Council of the European Union, Eulex Kosovo

Operative part of the judgment

Article 16(5) of Council Joint Action 2008/124/CFSP of 4 February 2008 on the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, Eulex Kosovo, as amended by Council Decision 2014/349/CFSP of 12 June 2014, must be interpreted as meaning that, starting from 15 June 2014, it designates the Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, known as ‘Eulex Kosovo’, referred to in Article 1 of that joint action, as responsible and therefore as defendant in any action relating to the consequences of the implementation of the mission entrusted to it, irrespective of whether the facts underlying such an action occurred before 12 June 2014, the date when Decision 2014/349 entered into force.

(1)  OJ C 297, 7.9.2020.