Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela v. Council of the European Union

Abstract

States — Legal personality of States under international law — European Union — State not Member of the European Union — Whether possessing legal personality under European Union law — European Union sanctions against Venezuela — Whether Venezuela entitled to challenge sanctions before European Union courts

Comity — International organizations — European Union — Standing before courts of European Union — Third States — Whether third States can challenge economic restrictions before European Union courts — Reciprocity — Whether access to European Union courts by third States conditional on agreement — Whether third States having standing to annul European Union Regulations — Whether third States having access to European Union courts — Whether third States directly affected by a European Union Regulation

Treaties — Interpretation — Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, 2007 — Article 263 — Fourth paragraph of Article 263 — Meaning of “legal person” — Whether third State a “legal person” — Rule of law — Whether access to European Union courts can be subjected to condition of reciprocity — Meaning of directly and individually concerned — Whether a third State is directly affected by a regulation

Economics, trade and finance — Restrictive measures — Venezuela — Whether regulation restricting European Union nationals directly concerning third State — Whether access of third States to European Union courts placing European Union at disadvantage — The law of the European Union