62021TJ0064_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber, Extended Composition) of 20 December 2023 – Mainova v Commission
(Case T-64/21) (
1
)
(Competition – Concentrations – German electricity and gas markets – Decision declaring a concentration compatible with the internal market – Concept of ‘single concentration’ – Definition of the market – Assessment of the effects of the transaction on competition – Manifest errors of assessment – Duty of diligence – Misuse of powers)
1.
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 81)
2.
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 having participated actively in the administrative procedure and proved specific circumstances establishing the effect on its market position – Admissibility
(Art. 263, fourth para., TFEU)
(see paragraphs 82-86)
3.
Concentrations between undertakings – Examination by the Commission – Single concentration – Concept – Conditions – Interdependent operations conferring on one or more undertakings direct or indirect economic control over the activities of one or more other undertakings – Acquisition by independent undertakings of the control of different targets in an asset swap –Precluded – No functional link between the operations at issue
(Council Regulation No 139/2004, recital 20 and Art. 3(1))
(see paragraphs 94-98, 105-111)
4.
Concentrations between undertakings – Examination by the Commission – Adoption of a decision finding a concentration transaction to be compatible with the internal market – Commitments of the undertakings concerned capable of rendering the notified operation compatible with the internal market – Margin of discretion – Judicial review – Limits
(Art. 263 TFEU; Council Regulation No 139/2004, Arts 2, 6(1)(c) and 8(2))
(see paragraphs 114-120)
5.
Concentrations between undertakings – Examination by the Commission – Account taken of data provided by the parties to the transaction – Whether permissible
(Council Regulation No 139/2004, Arts 2, 6(1)(c) and 8(2))
(see paragraphs 128-134)
6.
Action for annulment – Review of legality – Criteria – Account taken only of elements of fact and law existing at the date on which the contested measure was adopted – Line of argument of the applicant referring to an analysis drawn up by the Commission after the adoption of that measure but based on data existing on the date of adoption of that same measure – Admissibility – Conditions
(Art. 263 TFEU; Council Regulation No 139/2004, Arts 2 and 8(2))
(see paragraphs 137-143)
7.
Acts of the institutions – Statement of reasons – Obligation – Scope – Decision to apply rules on concentrations between undertakings – Decision authorising a concentration operation
(Art. 296 TFEU; Council Regulation No 139/2004, Arts 2, 6(1)(c) and 8(2))
(see paragraphs 172-176)
8.
Concentrations between undertakings – Examination by the Commission – Definition of the market in question – Criteria – Substitutability of products – Demand-side substitutability – Assessment of the substitutability of the retail supply of electricity and gas under basic supply and special contracts respectively
(Council Regulation No 139/2004, Arts 2, 6(1)(c) and 8(2))
(see paragraphs 187-215)
9.
Concentrations between undertakings – Examination by the Commission – Definition of the market in question – Effect of Commission’s previous decision-making practice –None
(Council Regulation No 139/2004, Art. 2)
(see paragraphs 216-218, 246)
10.
Concentrations between undertakings – Examination by the Commission – Definition of the market in question – Possibility for the Commission to leave that definition open – Conditions
(Council Regulation No 139/2004, Arts 2, 6(1)(b) and (c) and 8(2))
(see paragraphs 256, 262, 265)
11.
Concentrations between undertakings – Assessment of the compatibility with the internal market – Creation or reinforcement of a dominant position significantly impeding effective competition in the internal market – Examination by the Commission – Assessment of the anticompetitive effects of the transaction – Evidence – High market share
(Council Regulation No 139/2004, recital 32 and Art. 2; Commission Notice 2004/C 31/03, paragraphs 17 and 18)
(see paragraphs 284-287)
12.
Concentrations between undertakings – Examination by the Commission – Commission decision declaring a concentration compatible with the internal market – Assessment of the anticompetitive effects of the transaction – Burden of proof on the party challenging the Commission’s analysis in that regard
(Council Regulation No 139/2004, Arts 2, 6(1)(c) and 8(2))
(see paras 320, 324, 332, 333, 342-344, 348, 357, 364, 366, 374, 375)
13.
Concentrations between undertakings – Examination by the Commission – Economic assessments – Discretion – Duty of diligence – Scope
(Council Regulation No 139/2004)
(see paragraphs 385-389)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Mainova AG to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by the European Commission, E.ON SE and RWE AG.
(
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)	OJ C 138, 19.4.2021.