62016TJ0640(01)_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 25 January 2023 –GEA Group v Commission
(Case T‑640/16 RENV)
(Competition – Agreements, decisions and concerted practices – European markets for tin-based heat stabilisers and for heat stabilisers with epoxidised soybean oil and esters as their base – Application of the ceiling of 10% of turnover to one of the entities forming the undertaking – Annulment of the decision amending the fine imposed in the initial infringement decision – Admissibility – Interest in bringing proceedings – Fines – Limitation period – Concept of an ‘undertaking’ – Joint and several liability for payment of the fine – Rights of the defence – Right to a hearing – Equal treatment – Date by which the fine is payable in the event of amendment – Statement of reasons)
1.
Judicial proceedings – Judgment of the Court of Justice binding the General Court – Conditions – Reference back following an appeal – Points of law finally determined by the Court of Justice in the context of the appeal – Res judicata – Scope
(Statute of the Court of Justice, Arts 53, first para., and 61; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 215)
(see paragraphs 49, 50, 52, 54)
2.
Action for annulment – Natural or legal persons – Interest in bringing proceedings – Need for a vested and present interest – Assessment at the time when the action was brought – Action capable of securing a benefit for the applicant – Burden of proof
(Art. 263, fourth para., TFEU)
(see paragraphs 66-68)
3.
Action for annulment – Natural or legal persons – Interest in bringing proceedings – Annulment of a contested measure capable of procuring an advantage for the applicant in proceedings before the national courts – Admissibility – Whether the EU Courts can assess the likelihood that an action brought before national courts is well founded – Precluded
(Art. 263, fourth para., TFEU)
(see paragraphs 69, 93)
4.
Action for annulment – Natural or legal persons – Interest in bringing proceedings – Need for a vested and present interest – Action capable of securing a benefit for the applicant – Action brought against a decision amending a decision imposing a fine jointly and severally on several undertakings – Amending decision which is definitive with regard to the joint and several co-debtors of the applicant undertaking – Annulment of the amending decision liable to result in the fine being allocated more favourably to the applicant – Admissibility
(Art. 263 TFEU)
(see paragraphs 78-88)
5.
Judicial proceedings – Introduction of new pleas during the proceedings – Conditions – Application to the proceedings after reference back following an appeal
(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Arts 76(d), 84(1), 217(1) and 218)
(see paragraphs 111, 112)
6.
Acts of the institutions – Statement of reasons – Obligation – Scope – Essential formality distinct from the merits of the decision
(Art. 296 TFEU)
(see paragraphs 151-153)
7.
Competition – Administrative procedure – Limitation period for fines – Amendment of a decision imposing a fine – Amending decision which does not relate to the imposition of the fine as such or to the total amount of the fine – Assessment of compliance with the limitation period with regard to the date of adoption of the initial decision
(Art. 101 TFEU; Council Regulation No 1/2003, Arts 23(2)(b) and 25)
(see paragraphs 176-179, 186)
8.
Action for annulment – Pleas in law – Infringement of essential procedural requirements – Non-compliance with a time limit imposed by the EU legislature – To be considered of the Court’s own motion
(Art. 263 TFEU)
(see paragraph 188)
9.
Competition – Administrative procedure – Obligations of the Commission – Duty to act within a reasonable time – Infringement – Consequences – Annulment of the decision finding an infringement because of the procedure’s excessive duration – Condition – Harm to the rights of defence of the undertakings concerned
(Art. 101 TFEU; Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(1))
(see paragraphs 190-192)
10.
Competition – Administrative procedure – Statement of objections – Obligation of the Commission to organise an oral hearing at the request of the addressees of the statement of objections – Letter from the Commission providing information going beyond the necessary content of the statement of objections – Right of the addressees to an oral hearing – None
(Art. 101 TFEU; Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(2)(a) and (b); Council Regulation No 1/2003, Art. 27(1); Regulation No 773/2004, Art. 12(1))
(see paragraphs 206-224)
11.
Competition – EU rules – Infringement committed by a subsidiary – Imputation to the parent company – Joint and several liability for payment of the fine – Scope – Parent company and subsidiary having formed, during part of the infringement period, an undertaking for the purposes of Article 101 TFEU and having ceased to exist in that form on the day on which a decision imposing a fine was adopted – Consequences for the determination of the amount of the fine – Individual application of the ceiling of 10% of turnover – Breach of the principles of proportionality and equal treatment – None
(Art. 101 TFEU; Council Regulation No 1/2003, Art. 23(2))
(see paragraphs 242-249, 285)
12.
Competition – Fines – Amount – Determination – Discretion of the Commission – Judicial review – Unlimited jurisdiction of the EU judicature – Scope – Determination of the amount of the fine imposed – Criteria for assessment – Gravity and duration of the infringement – Respect for the principles of adequate reasoning, proportionality, that penalties must be specific to the offender and of equal treatment
(Arts 101, 261 and 263 TFEU; Council Regulation No 1/2003, Art. 31)
(see paragraphs 260-268, 270-272, 277, 286)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders GEA Group AG to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by the European Commission in the proceedings T‑640/16, T‑640/16 RENV and C‑823/18 P.