62023TJ0219_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 10 December 2025 – Bategu Gummitechnologie v Commission
(Case T‑219/23)
(Competition – Agreements, decisions and concerted practices – Bogie components – Decision rejecting a complaint – Regulation (EU) No 1302/2014 – Technical specification for interoperability relating to the rolling stock subsystem – Error of law – Manifest error of assessment – Misuse of powers – Principle of good administration)
1.
Competition – Administrative procedure – Examination of complaints – Determination of priorities by the Commission – Commission’s duty to adopt a decision as to the existence of an infringement – None – Account to be taken of the EU interest in investigating a case – Discretionary power of the Commission – Limits – Obligation to examine the matters of fact and of law brought to its notice by the complainant – Judicial review – Scope
(Arts 101 and 102 TFEU; Council Regulation No 1/2003, Art. 7)
(see paragraphs 24-27, 123)
2.
Appeal – Pleas in law – Plea in law ineffective – Concept
(see paragraphs 31-33, 44, 51)
3.
Competition – Administrative procedure – Examination of complaints – Decision of the Commission suspending the procedure – Complaint concerning railway vehicle manufacturers and original equipment manufacturers – Interpretation of a technical standard by the Commission – No error of law
(Council Regulation No 1/2003, Art. 7)
(see paragraphs 37-41, 46-48, 53-56)
4.
Competition – Administrative procedure – Examination of complaints – Decision of the Commission suspending the procedure – Complaint concerning railway vehicle manufacturers and original equipment manufacturers – No manifest error of assessment
(Council Regulation No 1/2003, Art. 7)
(see paragraphs 61-69, 74-79, 87-89, 92, 93, 98-109, 113-115, 119-121, 124-126)
5.
Competition – Administrative procedure – Examination of complaints – Decision of the Commission suspending the procedure – Complaint concerning railway vehicle manufacturers and original equipment manufacturers – No misuse of powers
(Council Regulation No 1/2003, Art. 7)
(see paragraphs 130-134)
6.
Appeal – Pleas in law – Inadequate statement of reasons – Separate plea in law from the one concerning substantive legality
(Statute of the Court of Justice, Art. 58, first para.)
(see paragraphs 135, 136)
7.
Competition – Administrative procedure – Rights of complainants – Access to documents – Scope – Limits
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(1); Arts 101 and 102 TFEU; Commission Regulation No 773/2004, Art. 8(1))
(see paragraphs 141-144, 146, 147)
8.
Competition – Administrative procedure – Rights of complainants – Right of access to the file – Decision to take no further action on a complaint, adopted in breach of the complainants’ right of access to the file – Annulment of the decision to take no further action – Condition – Possibility of the administrative procedure having a different outcome in the absence of that breach
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(1); Arts 101 and 102 TFEU)
(see paragraphs 145, 148)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Bategu Gummitechnologie GmbH to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by the European Commission and by Siemens AG;
3.
Orders Stadler Deutschland GmbH to bear its own costs.