# C_2004094EN.01004202.xml

| 17.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 94/42 |
| --------- | -- | -------------------------------------- | ------- |

---

ORDER OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE

of 21 January 2004

in Case T-245/03 R Fédération nationale des syndicats d'exploitants agricoles (FNSEA) and Others v Commission of the European Communities

(Interim proceedings - Competition - Payment of a fine - Bank guarantee - Prima facie case - Urgency - Balance of interests - Partial and conditional suspension)

(2004/C 94/121)

Language of the case: French

In Case T-245/03 R: Fédération nationale des syndicats d'exploitants agricoles (FNSEA), established in Paris (France), Fédération nationale bovine (FNB), established in Paris, Fédération nationale des producteurs du lait (FNPL), established in Paris, and Jeunes agriculteurs (JA), established in Paris, represented by B. Néouze and V. Ledoux, lawyers, with an address for service in Luxembourg, supported by the French Republic (agents: G. de Bergues and F. Million), against Commission of the European Communities (agents: P. Oliver and A. Bouquet) — application for dispensation, in whole or in part, from the obligation to provide a bank guarantee in order to avoid enforcement of the fines imposed by Commission Decision 2003/600/EC of 2 April 2003 relating to a proceeding pursuant to Article 81 of the EC Treaty (Case COMP/C.38.279/F3 -- French beef) (OJ 2003 L 209, p. 12) — the President of the Court of First Instance, made an order on 21 January 2004, the operative part of which is as follows:

| 1) | The obligation on the Fédération nationale des syndicats d'exploitants agricoles to provide the Commission with a bank guarantee in order to avoid immediate enforcement of the fines imposed on it by Article 3 of Commission Decision 2003/600/EC of 2 April 2003 relating to a proceeding pursuant to Article 81 of the EC Treaty (Case COMP/C.38.279/F3 —French beef) is suspended on the following conditions:
a)
within a period of three weeks from notification of this order, the Fédération nationale des syndicats d'exploitants agricoles shall pay the Commission the sum of EUR 1,5 million and provide a bank guarantee of EUR 1,7 million or, alternatively, the Fédération nationale des syndicats d'exploitants agricoles shall provide a bank guarantee of EUR 3,2 million; b)
within a period of five months from notification of this order the Fédération nationale des syndicats d'exploitants agricoles shall pay the Commission the balance of the fine still due, together with interest, or provide a bank guarantee of that amount. | a) | within a period of three weeks from notification of this order, the Fédération nationale des syndicats d'exploitants agricoles shall pay the Commission the sum of EUR 1,5 million and provide a bank guarantee of EUR 1,7 million or, alternatively, the Fédération nationale des syndicats d'exploitants agricoles shall provide a bank guarantee of EUR 3,2 million; | b) | within a period of five months from notification of this order the Fédération nationale des syndicats d'exploitants agricoles shall pay the Commission the balance of the fine still due, together with interest, or provide a bank guarantee of that amount. |
| -- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| a) | within a period of three weeks from notification of this order, the Fédération nationale des syndicats d'exploitants agricoles shall pay the Commission the sum of EUR 1,5 million and provide a bank guarantee of EUR 1,7 million or, alternatively, the Fédération nationale des syndicats d'exploitants agricoles shall provide a bank guarantee of EUR 3,2 million; | | | | |
| b) | within a period of five months from notification of this order the Fédération nationale des syndicats d'exploitants agricoles shall pay the Commission the balance of the fine still due, together with interest, or provide a bank guarantee of that amount. | | | | |

| 2) | The obligation on the Fédération nationale bovine to provide the Commission with a bank guarantee in order to avoid immediate enforcement of the fines imposed on it by Article 3 of Decision 2003/600 is suspended on the following conditions:
a)
within a period of three weeks from notification of this order, the Fédération nationale bovine shall pay the Commission the sum of EUR 200 000 and provide a bank guarantee of EUR 670 000 or, alternatively, the Fédération nationale bovine shall provide a bank guarantee of EUR 870 000; b)
within a period of five months from notification of this order, the Fédération nationale bovine shall pay the Commission the balance of the fine still due, together with interest, or provide a bank guarantee of that amount. | a) | within a period of three weeks from notification of this order, the Fédération nationale bovine shall pay the Commission the sum of EUR 200 000 and provide a bank guarantee of EUR 670 000 or, alternatively, the Fédération nationale bovine shall provide a bank guarantee of EUR 870 000; | b) | within a period of five months from notification of this order, the Fédération nationale bovine shall pay the Commission the balance of the fine still due, together with interest, or provide a bank guarantee of that amount. |
| -- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| a) | within a period of three weeks from notification of this order, the Fédération nationale bovine shall pay the Commission the sum of EUR 200 000 and provide a bank guarantee of EUR 670 000 or, alternatively, the Fédération nationale bovine shall provide a bank guarantee of EUR 870 000; | | | | |
| b) | within a period of five months from notification of this order, the Fédération nationale bovine shall pay the Commission the balance of the fine still due, together with interest, or provide a bank guarantee of that amount. | | | | |

| 3) | The obligation on the Jeunes agriculteurs to provide the Commission with a bank guarantee in order to avoid immediate enforcement of the fines imposed on it by Article 3 of Decision 2003/600 is suspended on the following conditions:
a)
within a period of three weeks from notification of this order, the Jeunes agriculteurs shall pay the Commission the sum of EUR 15 000 or, alternatively, provide a bank guarantee of that amount; b)
within a period of five months from notification of this order, the Jeunes agriculteurs shall pay the Commission the balance of the fine still due, together with interest, or provide a bank guarantee of that amount. | a) | within a period of three weeks from notification of this order, the Jeunes agriculteurs shall pay the Commission the sum of EUR 15 000 or, alternatively, provide a bank guarantee of that amount; | b) | within a period of five months from notification of this order, the Jeunes agriculteurs shall pay the Commission the balance of the fine still due, together with interest, or provide a bank guarantee of that amount. |
| -- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| a) | within a period of three weeks from notification of this order, the Jeunes agriculteurs shall pay the Commission the sum of EUR 15 000 or, alternatively, provide a bank guarantee of that amount; | | | | |
| b) | within a period of five months from notification of this order, the Jeunes agriculteurs shall pay the Commission the balance of the fine still due, together with interest, or provide a bank guarantee of that amount. | | | | |

| 4) | The suspension granted in paragraphs 2 and 3 of the operative part of this order shall cease to have effect if the applicants do not communicate to the Commission, within a period of six weeks from notification of this order, the annual accounts of the Fédération nationale bovine and the Jeunes agriculteurs for the 2001 and 2002 financial years, audited and certified by an audit firm of international repute; |
| -- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |

| 5) | Until bank guarantees covering interest are established, the applicants shall communicate to the Commission:
a)
monthly, the main parameters relating to changes in their economic and financial situation, which the Commission shall define upon notification of this order; b)
prior to its adoption, any decision liable substantially to affect their economic situation or intended to change their legal status. | a) | monthly, the main parameters relating to changes in their economic and financial situation, which the Commission shall define upon notification of this order; | b) | prior to its adoption, any decision liable substantially to affect their economic situation or intended to change their legal status. |
| -- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| a) | monthly, the main parameters relating to changes in their economic and financial situation, which the Commission shall define upon notification of this order; | | | | |
| b) | prior to its adoption, any decision liable substantially to affect their economic situation or intended to change their legal status. | | | | |

| 6) | The costs are reserved. |
| -- | ----------------------- |

---