Judgment — ECLI:EU:T:2011:668
Date: 2011-11-16
Language of the case: German
Court formation: Fourth Chamber
Subject matter: Competition;Agreements, decisions and concerted practices;Concerted practices
Procedure: Action for annulment - unfounded;Appeal against penalty - unfounded
Origin: Germany

Action brought on 22 February 2006 - RKW v Commission (Case T-55/06) Language of the case: German Parties Applicant: RKW AG Rheinische Kunststoffwerke (Worms, Germany) (represented by: H.-J. Hellmann, lawyer) Defendant: Commission of the European Communities Forms of order sought The applicant claims that the Court should: annul the defendant's decision of 30 November 2005 relating to a proceeding pursuant to Article 81 of the EC Treaty (Case C(2005) 4635 final, COMP/F/38.354 - Industrial bags), served on the applicant on 14 December 2005, in so far as it concerns the latter; in the alternative, reduce the fine imposed on the applicant; order the defendant to bear the costs of the proceedings. Pleas in law and main arguments The applicant challenges Commission Decision C(2005) 4634 final of 30 November 2005 in Case COMP/F/38.354 - Industrial bags. In the contested decision a fine was imposed on the applicant for infringement of Article 81 EC since, according to the Commission, it participated in a complex of agreements and concerted practices in the industrial bags sector in Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. In support of its action the applicant submits that the contested decision infringes the duty of administrative authorities to comply strictly with the law. The defendant's method of levying fines does not fall within the scope of the enabling provision, namely Article 15(2) of Regulation No 17/1962, 1 or Article 23 of Regulation No 1/2003. 2 In that regard, the applicant also claims that the principles of equal treatment and proportionality have been infringed. In addition, the applicant complains that Article 15(2) of Regulation No 17 and the guidelines on fixing fines have been misapplied. In particular, the submission and evaluation of the evidence in relation to the applicant was irregular. Furthermore, in view of previous administrative practice the applicant was disproportionately fined. As regards the amount of the initial sum for the gravity of the infringement, the applicant alleges that it was treated unequally, in several respects, in relation to the other parties to which the contested decision was also addressed. In addition, the applicant claims that the Commission erred in law with regard to the assessment of the duration of the infringement and did not take mitigating circumstances into account. Finally, the applicant submits that Article 15(2) of Regulation No 17 has also been infringed as the fine was wrongly fixed in the light of the application of the Notice on the non-imposition or reduction of fines. ____________ 1 - Council Regulation No 17: First Regulation implementing Articles 85 and 86 of the Treaty (OJ, English Special Edition 1959-1962, p. 87). 2 - Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 of 16 December 2002 on the implementation of the rules on competition laid down in Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty (OJ 2003 L 1, p. 1).