European Court Annuls EU Ruling to Blacklist Iranian Group

On October 23, 2008, the European Court of First Instance annulled the European Council’s decision to freeze the funds of the People’s Mujahedeen Organization of Iran (PMOI), which is on a EU terrorist list. The Court found that when Decision 2007/868 to freeze the assets of PMOI was taken, the statement of reasons is obviously insufficient to provide legal justification for continuing to freeze the applicant’s funds. The Court ruled that Decision 2007/868 did not explain the actual specific reasons why the Council took its view. In short, the Court found that, in the light of all the relevant information, and having regard to the particular circumstances of the case, proper and sufficient reasons had not been adduced for the continued freezing of PMOI’s funds...[more]