61959CJ0001_EN
Parties
Subject of the case
Grounds
Decision on costs
Endorsements
Operative part
Parties
IN CASE 1/59
MACCHIORLATTI DALMAS E FIGLI, A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP GOVERNED BY ITALIAN LAW, HAVING ITS REGISTERED OFFICE IN TURIN, REPRESENTED BY ANTONIO MACCHIOLATTI DALMAS, ASSISTED BY ARTURO COTTRAU, ADVOCATE OF THE TURIN BAR AND AT THE CORTE DI CASSAZIONE OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC, WITH AN ADDRESS FOR SERVICE IN LUXEMBOURG AT THE CHAMBERS OF GEORGES MARGUE, ADVOCATE, 6 RUE ALPHONSE-MUNCHEN, APPLICANT,
V
HIGH AUTHORITY OF THE EUROPEAN COAL AND STEEL COMMUNITY, REPRESENTED BY ITS LEGAL ADVISER, PROFESSOR GIULIO PASETTI-BOMBARDELLA, ACTING AS AGENT, ASSISTED BY PROFESSOR ALBERTO TRABUCCHI, ADVOCATE AT THE CORTE DI CASSAZIONE OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC, WITH AN ADDRESS FOR SERVICE IN LUXEMBOURG AT ITS OFFICES, 2 PLACE DE METZ, DEFENDANT,
Subject of the case
APPLICATION FOR THE ANNULMENT OF THE DECISION OF THE HIGH AUTHORITY OF 14 NOVEMBER 1958, NOTIFIED TO THE APPLICANT ON 4 DECEMBER 1958, IMPOSING UPON IT A FINE OF LIT 2 500 000 FOR HAVING EFFECTED SALES SUBJECT TO PRICES HIGHER AND CONDITIONS MORE ONEROUS THAN THOSE SHOWN ON ITS PRICE LIST,
Grounds
P . 202
ADMISSIBILITY
THE APPLICANT IS A MECHANICAL ENGINEERING UNDERTAKING . IT IS ALSO AN IRON AND STEEL UNDERTAKING AND FOR THIS REASON FALLS WITHIN ARTICLE 80 OF THE ECSC TREATY; IT IS NOT DISPUTED THAT IT PRODUCES, INTER ALIA, STEEL INGOTS, ROLLED STEEL PRODUCTS AND STEEL SECTIONS, WHICH ARE PRODUCTS MENTIONED IN ANNEX 1 TO THE TREATY .
IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 36 OF THE TREATY THE COURT HAS UNLIMITED JURISDICTION IN APPEALS AGAINST PECUNIARY SANCTIONS IMPOSED UNDER THAT TREATY SUCH AS THOSE WHICH ARE AT ISSUE IN THIS CASE .
THEREFORE THE APPLICATION IS ADMISSIBLE .
THE SUBSTANCE
THE APPLICANT CHALLENGES, ON THE BASIS OF ARTICLE 36 OF THE TREATY, A DECISION OF THE HIGH AUTHORITY TAKEN PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 64 WHICH IMPOSES UPON IT A FINE OF LIT 2 500 000 FOR HAVING EFFECTED SALES SUBJECT TO PRICES HIGHER AND CONDITIONS MORE ONEROUS THAN THOSE SHOWN IN ITS PRICE LIST, IN CONTRAVENTION OF ARTICLE 60 OF THE TREATY AND OF THE DECISIONS OF THE HIGH AUTHORITY MADE IN IMPLEMENTATION THEREOF .
P . 203
THE APPLICANT DENIES THAT IT HAS INFRINGED THE SAID PROVISIONS AND ASKS THAT IT SHOULD BE RELEASED FROM PAYMENT OF THE FINE WHICH HAS BEEN IMPOSED OR, ALTERNATIVELY, THAT THE SAID FINE SHOULD BE REDUCED .
AS FAR AS CONCERNS ARTICLE 60 OF THE TREATY AND DECISIONS NOS 30/53, 31/53, 1/54 AND 2/54 OF THE HIGH AUTHORITY, IT IS NECESSARY TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE ALLEGED INFRINGEMENTS HAVE BEEN PROVED AND, IF SO, WHETHER THE AMOUNT OF THE PECUNIARY SANCTION WHICH HAS BEEN FIXED IS FAIR AND REASONABLE .
THE HIGH AUTHORITY'S DECISION OF 14 NOVEMBER 1958, WHICH IMPOSES UPON THE APPLICANT THE PECUNIARY SANCTION AT ISSUE, MENTIONS 46 INVOICES CONTAINING PRICE INCREASES COMPARED WITH THE LEVEL OF PRICES SHOWN IN THE APPLICANT'S PRICE LIST; THE SALES WHICH ARE NOT IN ORDER AMOUNT IN VALUE ALTOGETHER TO LIT 70 569 655 AND THE PRICE INCREASES TO WHICH EXCEPTION IS TAKEN AMOUNT IN THE AGGREGATE TO LIT 9 199 973 .
THE SYSTEM INTRODUCED BY ARTICLE 60 OF THE TREATY AND DECISIONS NOS 30/53, 31/53, 1/54 AND 2/54 OF THE HIGH AUTHORITY DISTINGUISHES BETWEEN TWO CATEGORIES OF RULES : THOSE RELATING TO THE OBSERVANCE OF THE PRINCIPLE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION AND THOSE RELATING TO THE PUBLICATION OF PRICES .
UNDER ARTICLE 2 OF DECISION NO 30/53, AS AMENDED BY ARTICLE 1 OF DECISION NO 1/54, IT IS A PROHIBITED PRACTICE WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 60 ( 1 ) FOR A SELLER TO APPLY PRICES OR CONDITIONS DEPARTING FROM THOSE WHOWN IN HIS PRICE LIST UNLESS HE CAN SHOW EITHER THAT THE TRANSACTION IN QUESTION DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE CATEGORIES OF TRANSACTIONS COVERED BY THIS PRICE LIST, OR THAT THE PRICES OR CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN DEPARTED FROM UNIFORMLY IN ALL COMPARABLE TRANSACTIONS .
UNDER THE RULES FOR THE PUBLICATION OF PRICES UNDERTAKINGS HAVE TO MAKE KNOWN THEIR PRICE LISTS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROCEDURE LAID DOWN; THUS ANY PRICE WHICH DEPARTS FROM THE PRICE LIST, EVEN IF THE LATTER HAS BEEN DEPARTED FROM UNIFORMLY IN ALL COMPARABLE TRANSACTIONS AND THE DEPARTURE FOR THAT REASON IS NOT AN INFRINGEMENT OF THE RULES ON NON-DISCRIMINATION, IS A BREACH OF THE RULES REGARDING PUBLICATION . IN THIS CASE IT IS NOT SUFFICIENT FOR THE APPLICANT, IN ORDER TO AVOID THE ALLEGATION THAT IT HAS NOT COMPLIED WITH THE RULES REGARDING PUBLICATION, MERELY TO ESTABLISH THAT PRICES DEPARTING FROM THOSE IN ITS PRICE LIST ARE NOT DISCRIMINATORY, SINCE EVERY DEPARTURE, OF WHATEVER NATURE, CONSTITUTES SUCH AN INFRINGEMENT; IT MUST ALSO ESTABLISH THAT EVERY SALE IN RESPECT OF WHICH IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT THE PRICES DEPARTED FROM THOSE SHOWN IN ITS PRICE LIST FALLS OUTSIDE THE CATEGORIES OF TRANSACTIONS COVERED BY THAT PRICE LIST . FURTHERMORE, IF THE PRICES DEPARTING FROM THE PUBLISHED PRICE LIST HAVE NOT BEEN APPLIED UNIFORMLY IN ALL COMPARABLE TRANSACTIONS THEN THERE HAS CLEARLY BEEN A BREACH BOTH OF THE RULES REGARDING PUBLICATION OF PRICES AND OF THOSE ON NON-DISCRIMINATION .
P . 204
ALTHOUGH A FINDING THAT THE RULES REGARDING PUBLICATION OF PRICES HAVE BEEN INFRINGED IS SUFFICIENT JUSTIFICATION IN LAW FOR THE IMPOSITION OF A PECUNIARY SANCTION, IT IS HOWEVER ALSO NECESSARY, IN ORDER TO DETERMINE ACCURATELY THE GRAVITY OF THE INFRINGEMENT AND CONSEQUENTLY THE AMOUNT OF THE FINE, TO CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT THE FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE RULES REGARDING PUBLICATION ALSO INCLUDES A BREACH OF THE RULES ON NON-DISCRIMINATION .
EXISTENCE OF THE INFRINGEMENT
IT EMERGED AT THE HEARING THAT NONE OF THE SALES TO WHICH EXCEPTION IS TAKEN CAN BE REGARDED AS EXCLUSIVE OF OR FALLING OUTSIDE THE CATEGORIES OF TRANSACTIONS COVERED BY THE APPLICANT'S PRICE LIST, ALTHOUGH THE CONTESTED DECISION DOES NOT MENTION IN THE STATEMENT OF THE REASONS UPON WHICH IT IS BASED THAT THE EXCEPTIONS SPECIFIED IN ARTICLE 1 OF DECISION NO 1/54 DID NOT APPLY IN THIS CASE .
MOST OF THE SALES AT ISSUE CONTRAVENE THE RULES REGARDING PUBLICATION . IN SOME OF THEM THE PRICE INCREASES WERE A DIRECT BREACH OF THE PRICE LIST AND IN OTHERS THAT PRICE LIST LEFT OUT CERTAIN INFORMATION WHICH ARTICLE 2 ( B ) AND ( E ) OF DECISION NO 31/53 REQUIRES IT TO CONTAIN, SUCH AS ANY ADDITIONAL CHARGE FOR SIZE OR LENGTH, ANY SURCHARGE OR INCREASE IN CONNEXION WITH DELIVERY, COSTS IN CONNEXION WITH METHOD OF SHIPMENT AND ANY INCREASE FOR CERTAIN GRADES AND QUALITIES . THOSE BREACHES OR OMISSIONS WERE FOUND IN THE FOLLOWING INVOICES RELATING TO THE SALES IN QUESTION : NOS 2 OF 5 JANUARY 1957; 4, 6, 7 AND 8 OF 4 JANUARY 1957; 12 OF 7 JANUARY 1957; 15 OF 8 JANUARY 1957; 53 OF 26 JANUARY 1957; 63 AND 64 OF 29 JANUARY 1957; 70 AND 72 OF 30 JANUARY 1957; 429, 430 AND 431 OF 3 JUNE 1957; 438 OF 6 JUNE 1957; 441 OF 7 JUNE 1957; 444 OF 8 JUNE 1957; 445 TO 455 OF 8, 10 AND 11 JUNE 1957; 459 TO 463 OF 12 JUNE 1957; 464 AND 465 OF 13 JUNE 1957 AND 466 TO 473 OF 13 AND 17 JUNE 1957 .
FURTHERMORE, THE APPLICANT DISREGARDED THE RULE ON NON-DISCRIMINATION IN THE SALES RECORDED IN ITS INVOICES NOS 4 OF 4 JANUARY 1957 AND 15 OF 8 JANUARY 1957 . THE FACT IS THAT IN THE CASE OF THOSE SALES THE LIST PRICES WERE NOT DEPARTED FROM UNIFORMLY IN ALL COMPARABLE TRANSACTIONS .
MOREOVER, THE APPLICANT EXPRESSLY ADMITTED IN ITS LETTER OF 15 DECEMBER 1958 ADDRESSED TO THE HIGH AUTHORITY THAT IT HAD INFRINGED THE RULE ON NON-DISCRIMINATION IN THAT IT TREATED DIFFERENT CUSTOMERS IN A DIFFERENT MANNER FOR SUBJECTIVE REASONS . ALTHOUGH THAT LETTER WAS ADDRESSED TO THE HIGH AUTHORITY IN ANSWER TO A NOTE CONCERNING THE LEVY, IT CONTAINS CERTAIN STATEMENTS WHICH ARE RELEVANT TO THIS CASE .
P . 205
THE AMOUNT OF THE FINE
THE APPLICANT HAS CLEARLY INFRINGED BOTH THE RULES REGARDING PUBLICATION OF PRICES IN MOST OF THE SALES AT ISSUE AND THE RULES ON NON-DISCRIMINATION IN AT LEAST TWO OF THOSE SALES .
ALTHOUGH INFRINGEMENT OF THE RULE ON NON-DISCRIMINATION IS A MORE SERIOUS OFFENCE THAN INFRINGEMENT OF THE RULES REGARDING PUBLICATION OF PRICES, THE LATTER CANNOT BE REGARDED AS A MINOR OFFENCE : THE TREATY IN FACT PROVIDES THAT PUBLICATION IS OBLIGATORY IN ORDER TO ATTAIN THE FOLLOWING AIMS :
1 . TO PREVENT PROHIBITED PRACTICES AS FAR AS THIS IS POSSIBLE;
2 . TO PERMIT BUYERS TO OBTAIN ACCURATE INFORMATION ON PRICES AND ALSO TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DETECTION OF DISCRIMINATION;
3 . TO ALLOW UNDERTAKINGS TO KNOW THE EXACT PRICES CHARGED BY THEIR COMPETITORS AND PROVIDE THEM WITH THE OPPORTUNITY OF ALIGNING THEIR OWN PRICES ON THEM .
CONSEQUENTLY, A MERE INFRINGEMENT OF THE RULES REGARDING PUBLICATION OF PRICES POSTULATES THE IMPOSITION OF A FINE WHICH IS NOT SIMPLY A SYMBOLIC PENALTY BUT WHICH IS APPROPRIATE HAVING REGARD TO THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT INFRINGEMENT, WHICH ARE TO PREVENT THE ATTAINMENT OF THE FUNDAMENTAL OBJECTIVES MENTIONED ABOVE .
IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES THE ABOVEMENTIONED INFRINGEMENTS WHICH HAVE BEEN FOUND TO HAVE BEEN COMMITTED - HAVING REGARD TO THE VALUE OF THE TRANSACTIONS COMPLAINED OF, THE DISPARITY BETWEEN THE PRICE LISTS AND THOSE WHICH WERE APPLIED AND TO THE AMOUNT OF THE PRICE INCREASE APPLIED IN A DISCRIMINATORY MANNER TO CERTAIN CUSTOMERS - JUSTIFY THE PECUNIARY SANCTION IMPOSED BY THE HIGH AUTHORITY UPON THE APPLICANT AND THE AMOUNT OF THE FINE IS APPROPRIATE IN VIEW OF THE GRAVITY OF THE INFRINGEMENTS, BEARING IN MIND THE LIMITS LAID DOWN BY ARTICLE 64 OF THE TREATY .
THE CONTESTED DECISION IS JUSTIFIED AND THE APPLICATION MUST BE DISMISSED AS UNFOUNDED .
Decision on costs
UNDER THE TERMS OF ARTICLE 60 OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE ECSC THE UNSUCCESSFUL PARTY SHALL BE ORDERED TO PAY THE COSTS; AS THE APPLICANT IN THIS CASE HAS FAILED IN ITS CONCLUSIONS IT MUST BE ORDERED TO BEAR THE COSTS .
Endorsements
UPON READING THE PLEADINGS;
UPON HEARING THE REPORT OF THE JUDGE-RAPPORTEUR;
UPON HEARING THE PARTIES;
UPON HEARING THE OPINION OF THE ADVOCATE-GENERAL;
HAVING REGARD TO ARTICLES 36, 60, 64, 80 AND 92 OF THE TREATY ESTABLISHING THE EUROPEAN COAL AND STEEL COMMUNITY;
HAVING REGARD TO THE PROTOCOL ON THE STATUTE OF THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN COAL AND STEEL COMMUNITY;
HAVING REGARD TO THE RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN COAL AND STEEL COMMUNITY;
HAVING REGARD TO THE RULES OF THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN COAL AND STEEL COMMUNITY RELATING TO COSTS,
Operative part
THE COURT
HEREBY :
1 . DISMISSES THE APPLICATION;
2 . ORDERS THE APPLICANT TO BEAR THE COSTS .