Brussels, 14/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 14 February, the European Court of Justice ruled that an appeal lodged by Simone Gbagbo, wife of former president of Cote d'Ivoire, Laurent Gbagbo, against the European General Court's ruling validating the EU Council of Ministers' decision to add her to the list of people subject to sanctions because of the situation in Côte d'Ivoire (ruling T-119/11 of 25 April 2013, see EUROPE 10836) cannot be heard because it was lodged too late.
Sanctions were issued against Mrs Gbagbo because she is the wife of the president, she chairs the Front Populaire Ivoirien party at the country's National Assembly, she is suspected of organising political and religious networks opposing the introduction of international resolutions, she obstructs the peace process and publicly encourages people to commit acts of hatred and violence. The General Court agreed with the decision on the grounds that the ministers had provided sufficient evidence and had not committed any manifest error of judgment. Also, the defendant's right of defence and ownership had been respected. The Court of Justice states that Mrs Gbagbo lodged her appeal on 10 July 2013, the day after expiry of the General Court's deadlines for appeal cases. (FG/transl.fl)