Judgment_paragraph 43 · Francis Wattiau v European Parliament (T-737/17)

43In the present case, given that the decision rejecting the complaint merely confirms the contested decision of the Settlements Office to charge the applicant EUR 843.01, it must be held that the claim for annulment of the decision rejecting the complaint lacks any independent content, and that there is therefore no need to rule on that claim specifically. However, when examining the legality of the contested decision, the statement of reasons for the decision rejecting the complaint should be taken into account, as it is deemed to cover the statement of reasons in the contested decision (see, to that effect, judgment of 9 December 2009, Commission v Birkhoff, T‑377/08 P, EU:T:2009:485, paragraphs 58 and 59 and the case-law cited).