EU court rules Hamas to stay on blacklist

BRUSSELS, July 26 (KUNA) -- The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled Wednesday that the Palestinian movement Hamas should remain on the European Union's list of terrorist groups and referred the case back to the lower General Court.
The Luxembourg-based ECJ in a press release observed that the General Court annulled in 2014 the continued freezing of funds of Hamas solely on the ground that the Council of the EU had not referred, by way of justification, to national decisions by competent authorities.
"The Court of Justice therefore sets aside the 2014 judgment of the General Court. It refers the case back to the General Court so that the latter may examine the facts and arguments on which it did not rule in its 2014 judgment," it said.
"Since the General Court's judgment has been set aside, the Council (of the EU) measures by which Hamas' funds continue to be frozen are to remain in force for the time being," it added.
The lower court had argued that the EU listing of Hamas was based on mere media and internet reports and not on factual legal evidence.
On December 27 2001, the Council of the European Union adopted a common position and a regulation to combat terrorism. Those measures require the freezing of the assets of individuals, groups and entities suspected of being involved in acts of terrorism and whose names are included on a list adopted and regularly updated by the Council.
On the same day, the Council adopted an initial decision by which it entered the Hamas movement on the list. It subsequently maintained Hamas' entry on that list. (end) nk.gta