Brussels, 19/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 19 January, the EU decided to submit an appeal against the ruling by the EU Court of mid-December (see EUROPE 11220), which challenged, for procedural reasons, the decisions by the Council of the EU to maintain the Hamas organisation on the list of European terrorist groups.
A press release indicated that “The Council has now decided to challenge some of the findings of the Court regarding the procedural grounds”. Nonetheless, the Council will at the same time be “studying carefully other appropriate remedial actions that may be taken to avoid possible annulments in the future within the ongoing review process of EU autonomous measures to combat terrorism.”
The Court criticised the Council for basing its decision on information drawn from the press and Internet for keeping Hamas on the EU list of terrorist organisations. According to one European source, this point will be contested by the Council. The latter will also defend the point of view that further proof will not be necessary every time a decision is renewed, which is usually done every six months. (JK)