# C_2005217EN.01000202.xml

| 3.9.2005 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 217/2 |
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3.9.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 217/2

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JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

(First Chamber)

of 14 July 2005

in Case C-57/02 P: Compañía española para la fabricación de aceros inoxidables SA (Acerinox) v Commission of the European Communities (1)

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(Appeal - ECSC Treaty - Agreement, decisions and concerted practices - Alloy surcharge - Parallel conduct - Reduction of the fine - Cooperation in the administrative procedure - Rights of the defence)

(2005/C 217/04)

Language of the case: English

In Case C-57/02 P, Compañía española para la fabricación de aceros inoxidables SA (Acerinox), established in Madrid (Spain) (Lawyers: A. Vandencasteele and D. Waelbroeck), the other party to the proceedings being: Commission of the European Communities (Agent: A. Whelan, and J. Flynn, Barrister) — appeal under Article 49 of the ECSC Statute of the Court of Justice, brought on 22 February 2002 — the Court (First Chamber), composed of P. Jann, President of the Chamber, A. Rosas, R. Silva de Lapuerta, K. Lenaerts and S. von Bahr (Rapporteur), Judges; P. Léger, Advocate General; R. Grass, Registrar, gave a judgment on 14 July 2005, in which it:

| 1. | Annuls the judgment of the Court of First Instance of the European Communities of 13 December 2001 in Case T-48/98 Acerinox v Commission to the extent to which it rejected the plea in law put forward by Compañía española para la fabricación de aceros inoxidables SA (Acerinox) alleging the lack of a statement of reasons relating to its alleged participation in an agreement on the Spanish market; |
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1.

Annuls the judgment of the Court of First Instance of the European Communities of 13 December 2001 in Case T-48/98 Acerinox v Commission to the extent to which it rejected the plea in law put forward by Compañía española para la fabricación de aceros inoxidables SA (Acerinox) alleging the lack of a statement of reasons relating to its alleged participation in an agreement on the Spanish market;

| 2. | For the rest, dismisses the appeal; |
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2.

For the rest, dismisses the appeal;

| 3. | Dismisses the action for annulment brought by Compañía española para la fabricación de aceros inoxidables SA (Acerinox) to the extent to which it is based on a plea in law alleging that the Commission of the European Communities was wrong to attribute evidential value to the fax sent on 14 January 1994 by Avesta Sheffield AB to its subsidiaries; |
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3.

Dismisses the action for annulment brought by Compañía española para la fabricación de aceros inoxidables SA (Acerinox) to the extent to which it is based on a plea in law alleging that the Commission of the European Communities was wrong to attribute evidential value to the fax sent on 14 January 1994 by Avesta Sheffield AB to its subsidiaries;

| 4. | Orders Compañía española para la fabricación de aceros inoxidables SA (Acerinox) to pay the costs of the present proceedings. The costs of the proceedings at first instance leading to the judgment of the Court of First Instance referred to in paragraph 1 of the operative part of this judgment shall be borne in the manner set out in paragraph 3 of the operative part of that judgment. |
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4.

Orders Compañía española para la fabricación de aceros inoxidables SA (Acerinox) to pay the costs of the present proceedings. The costs of the proceedings at first instance leading to the judgment of the Court of First Instance referred to in paragraph 1 of the operative part of this judgment shall be borne in the manner set out in paragraph 3 of the operative part of that judgment.

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(1)  OJ C 109 of 04.05.2002.

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