62020TJ0094_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Fourth Chamber) of 8 March 2023 –Campine and Campine Recycling v Commission
(Case T‑94/20) (
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)
(Non-contractual liability – Competition – Agreements, decisions and concerted practices – Market for car battery recycling – Decision finding an infringement of Article 101 TFEU – Judgment partially annulling the decision and reducing the amount of the fine imposed – Refusal of the Commission to pay default interest – Article 266 TFEU – Article 90(4) of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012 – Sufficiently serious breach of a rule of law conferring rights on individuals – Rate of default interest)
1.
Non-contractual liability – Conditions – Unlawfulness – Damage – Causal link – Cumulative conditions
(Art. 340, second para., TFEU)
(see paragraphs 34, 35)
2.
Non-contractual liability – Conditions – Unlawfulness – Breach by the Commission of its obligation to pay default interest on the reimbursed amount of a fine annulled or reduced by the EU Courts – Infringement of Article 266 TFEU – Sufficiently serious breach of a rule of law intended to confer rights on individuals
(Arts 266, first para., and 340, second para., TFEU)
(see paragraphs 36, 38-43)
3.
Own resources of the European Union – Payment of a debt incumbent on the Commission – Interest due – Default interest – Measure giving effect to a judgment annulling a measure
(Art. 266, first para., TFEU)
(see paragraphs 37, 47, 52, 56, 76, 83, 84)
4.
Non-contractual liability – Conditions – Causal link – Breach by the Commission of its obligation to pay default interest on the reimbursed amount of a fine annulled or reduced by the EU Courts – Infringement of Article 266 TFEU – Damage arising from the loss of use of the monies owed – Direct causal link
(Arts 266, first para., and 340, second para., TFEU)
(see paragraph 46)
5.
Own resources of the European Union – Payment of a debt incumbent on the Commission – Interest due – Reimbursement of a fine annulled or reduced by the EU Courts – Relief of the Commission from the obligation to include default interest on that amount – No such relief
(Art. 266, first para., TFEU; Commission Regulation No 1268/2012, Arts 83 and 90)
(see paragraphs 72, 73)
6.
Own resources of the European Union – Payment of a debt incumbent on the Commission – Interest due – Compensatory interest – Default interest – Distinction – Measure giving effect to a judgment of the General Court
(Art. 266 TFEU)
(see paragraphs 86, 88)
7.
Own resources of the European Union – Payment of a debt incumbent on the Commission – Interest due – Reimbursement of a fine annulled or reduced by the EU Courts – Award of default interest from the date of provisional payment of the fine – Objectives – Conflict with the deterrent function of fines – No such conflict
(Art. 266, first para., TFEU)
(see paragraphs 90-92)
8.
Own resources of the European Union – Payment of a debt incumbent on the Commission – Interest due – Reimbursement of a fine annulled or reduced by the EU Courts – Award of default interest at a reduced rate in order to cover significant costs – Justification – Provision of a bank guarantee – Distinction
(Art. 266, first para., TFEU; Commission Regulation No 1268/2012, Arts 83 and 90)
(see paragraphs 95-97)
9.
Own resources of the European Union – Payment of a debt incumbent on the Commission – Interest due – Capitalisation of interest – Reimbursement of an annulled fine – Obligation for the Commission to include default interest on the interest due on the fine paid provisionally – Conditions
(Art. 266 TFEU)
(see paragraphs 106-108)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Orders the European Commission to pay Campine and Campine Recycling compensation in the amount of EUR 300 637.32 for the damage suffered;
2.
Increases the compensation referred to in point 1 by default interest, starting from 11 December 2019 and continuing until full payment, at the rate set by the European Central Bank (ECB) for its principal refinancing operations, increased by 3.5 percentage points;
3.
Orders the Commission to bear its own costs and to pay the costs incurred by Campine and Campine Recycling.
(
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)	OJ C 137, 27.4.2020.