Judgment of the Court of First Instance (Third Chamber) 16 May 2000

In Case T-121/99,

THE COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (Third Chamber), composed of: K. Lenaerts, President, J. Azizi and M. Jaeger, Judges, Registrar: B. Pastor, Principal Administrator,

having regard to the written procedure and further to the hearing on 24 February 2000,

gives the following

Judgment

Background to the dispute

Procedure and forms of order sought

Substance

First plea in law: infringement of essential procedural requirements

Arguments of the parties

Findings of the Court

The second plea in law: breach of rights of the defence

— The first part: inadequate notice of the date of the hearing of July 1998

Arguments of the parties

Findings of the Court

— The second part: the Commission's refusal to finance the applicant's legal expenses in relation to the hearing of July 1998

Arguments of the parties

Findings of the Court

— The third part: procedural irregularities relating to the hearing of 18 November 1997

Arguments of the parties

Findings of the Court

— The fourth part: transfer of the applicant to Brussels in September 1997

Arguments of the parties

Findings of the Court

Costs

1 Language of the case: English.