62020TJ0316_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Fourth Chamber, Extended Composition) of 17 May 2023– Naturstrom v Commission
(Case T‑316/20) (
1
)
(Competition – Concentrations – German electricity market – Decision declaring the concentration compatible with the internal market – Action for annulment – No standing to bring proceedings – No active participation – Inadmissibility)
1.
Judicial proceedings – Intervention – Objection of inadmissibility not raised by the defendant – Inadmissibility – Plea in law based on the applicant’s lack of standing to bring proceedings – Absolute bar to proceeding – To be considered of the Court’s own motion
(Statute of the Court of Justice, Arts 40, fourth para., and 53, first para.; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Arts 129 and 142(3))
(see paragraphs 20, 21)
2.
Action for annulment – Natural or legal persons – Measures of direct and individual concern to them – Direct concern – Criteria – Commission decision declaring a concentration compatible with the internal market – Action brought by an undertaking competing with the parties to the operation – Decision liable to bring about an immediate change in the state of the market concerned – Direct concern to the applicant
(Art. 263, fourth para., TFEU)
(see paragraph 24)
3.
Action for annulment – Natural or legal persons – Measures of direct and individual concern to them – Individual concern – Criteria – Commission decision declaring a concentration compatible with the internal market – Action brought by an undertaking competing with the parties to the operation – Undertaking which did not actively participate in the administrative procedure relating to the concentration – No specific circumstance relating to the effect on market position – Not individually concerned – Inadmissibility
(Art. 263, fourth para., TFEU)
(see paragraphs 25-33)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action as inadmissible;
2.
Orders Naturstrom AG to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by the European Commission, E.ON SE and by RWE AG;
3.
Orders the Federal Republic of Germany to bear its own costs.
(
1
)	OJ C 247, 27.7.2020.