Commission Decision

of 2 April 2003

relating to a proceeding pursuant to Article 81 of the EC Treaty

(Case COMP/C.38.279/F3 - French beef)

(notified under document number C(2003) 1065)

(Only the French text is authentic)

(2003/600/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation No 17 of 6 February 1962, first Regulation implementing Articles 85 and 86 of the Treaty(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1/2003(2), and in particular Article 15(2) thereof,

Having regard to Council Regulation No 26 of 4 April 1962 applying certain rules of competition to production of and trade in agricultural products(3), as amended by Regulation No 49(4), and in particular Article 2 thereof,

Having regard to the Commission decision of 24 June 2002 to initiate proceedings in this case,

Having given the undertakings concerned the opportunity of being heard on the matters to which the Commission has taken objection, in accordance with Article 19(1) of Regulation No 17 and Article 2 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2842/98 of 22 December 1998 on the hearing of parties in certain proceedings under Articles 85 and 86 of the EC Treaty(5),

Having consulted the Advisory Committee on Restrictive Practices and Dominant Positions,

Having regard to the final report of the Hearing Officer in this case(6),

Whereas:

1. THE FACTS

1.1. Subject of the case and procedure

(1) This Decision relates to a written agreement, dated 24 October 2001, concluded between six French federations in order to set a minimum purchase price for certain categories of cattle and suspend imports of beef into France. Four of the federations which signed the agreement represent cattle farmers: the Fédération nationale des syndicats d'exploitants agricoles (FNSEA), the Fédération nationale bovine (FNB), the Fédération nationale des producteurs de lait (FNPL) and the Jeunes agriculteurs (JA, formerly the Centre national des jeunes agriculteurs or CNJA). The two other federations which signed the agreement represent cattle slaughterers: the Fédération nationale de l'industrie et des commerces en gros des viandes (FNICGV) and the Fédération nationale de la coopération bétail et viande (FNCBV). This Decision also relates to the verbal agreement concluded at the end of November and beginning of December 2001 between the same parties and having the same object, applicable following the expiry of the agreement concluded on 24 October 2001.

(2) On 30 October 2001, having learned of the signature of the agreement of 24 October 2001, the Commission wrote to the French Permanent Representative to the European Union requesting further information on the agreement and on the involvement of the French State. A reply was received by letter dated 9 November 2001.

(3) On 9 November 2001, the Commission wrote to five of the federations which had signed the agreement requesting information pursuant to Article 11 of Regulation No 17; since the Commission was not at that time aware that the FNCBV had also signed the agreement, the request for information was not addressed to that federation. The five federations in question replied accordingly to the requests for information on 15 and 23 November 2001.

(4) On 26 November 2001, in the light of the information thus obtained, the Commission sent the six federations a letter of formal notice stating that the facts which had come to its knowledge indicated, at first sight, that the Community competition rules had been infringed. The addressees were asked to submit their comments by 28 November. Each of them replied that the agreement would end on 30 November 2001 and that it would not be extended.

(5) On 17 December 2001, having information indicating that the agreement was in fact continuing, the Commission carried out investigations on the premises of the FNSEA and the FNB in Paris pursuant to Article 14(3) of Regulation No 17, and on the premises of the FNICGV, also in Paris, on the basis of Article 14(2) of Regulation No 17.

(6) On 24 June 2002, the Commission adopted a statement of objections addressed to the six federations. The parties submitted their written comments between 23 September and 4 October 2002. They also made known their views at the hearing held on 31 October 2002.

1.2. The Parties

(7) The FNICGV is the trade organisation representing undertakings of all sizes and types of activity operating in the meat industry and meat wholesaling (beef and veal, pigmeat, mutton and lamb, horsemeat and offal). The FNICGV is a union (syndicat) established under French law and, on 1 January 2000, had more than 400 members throughout France. Its members account for more that 75 % of turnover in the sector. In its comments on the statement of objections, the FNICGV stated that its share "as regards slaughter" (en matière d'abattage) is 80 %, or 60 % if the cooperatives, which are ordinary rather than permanent, members are not included.

(8) The FNCBV is the federation representing the cooperative movement. It comprises 300 cooperative groups of producers in the cattle, pig and sheep farming sectors and some 30 slaughter and meat-processing groups or undertakings.

(9) The FNSEA, which is the main French farmers' union, has various branches. The basic level is the local farmers' union (syndicat d'exploitants agricoles); the local farmers' unions are grouped together at department (département) level. The grouping is called the Fédération départementale des syndicats d'exploitants agricoles (FDSEA) or Union départementale des syndicats d'exploitants agricoles (UDSEA), and these are members of the FNSEA. Regional federations coordinate the activities of the FDSEAs or UDSEAs in each region. The FNSEA also comprises 38 specialised associations representing the interests of each type of producer. These specialised associations include the FNB and the FNPL, both of which signed the agreement of 24 October 2001. Lastly, the FNSEA also comprises four social affairs sections, which are not covered by this proceeding. Young farmers (under 35 years of age) have their own representative body, the JA. To be a member of the local young farmers' centre, one must also be a member of the local FDSEA/UDSEA trade union. The FNSEA, the JA, the FNB and the FNPL are trade unions governed by French law.

1.3. The beef sector in France and the October 2000 crisis

(10) The cattle population in the Community numbers some 81 million head. French cattle numbers account for more than 25 % of this total. Every year, slaughtered adult cattle in France represent approximately 1,3 million tonnes of carcase weight equivalent (1,361 million in 1999, 1,277 million in 2000 and 1,315 million in 2001). Slaughtered dairy cattle (i.e. cows intended for milk production) or suckler cows (i.e. cows for the rearing of calves) represent approximately 50 % of this total (620000, 624000 and 600000 tonnes of carcase weight equivalent in 1999, 2000 and 2001 respectively)(7). In a report drawn up by the French body OFIVAL (Office national interprofessionnel des viandes, de l'élevage et de l'aviculture) in October 2002 on "the beef sector in France"(8), one of the tables is headed "operators". Against the heading "production", the table indicates "240000 farms with more than five" adult cattle, with turnover estimated at EUR 4,4 billion. Against the heading "slaughter", the table cites "443 slaughter and cutting enterprises with more than 20 employees"; turnover in "butcher's meat" is estimated at EUR 14 billion, including EUR 6,2 billion for "beef and veal".

(11) Total imports into France (live adult cattle, fresh and frozen meat) from other Member States amounted to 342000 tonnes of carcase weight equivalent in 1999, 331000 tonnes in 2000 and 262000 tonnes in 2001. Such imports account for virtually all French imports of beef and veal (only 5 % of French imports of such products come from non-Community countries). France is one of the main meat importers in the Community, just as it is one of the main exporters to the other Member States. In 2001, French imports were worth EUR 1354 million and French exports EUR 744 million(9). Most of the trade is in fresh or frozen meat, not live animals. It should be borne in mind that at that time France was unlawfully banning the import of beef originating in the United Kingdom. That France thereby failed to fulfil its obligations has been confirmed by the Court of Justice of the European Communities(10).

(12) In October 2000, a new case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or mad cow disease) was discovered. It involved an animal from a herd from which, in the meantime, 11 other animals had been slaughtered and their meat put up for sale in a supermarket chain. Other cases of BSE were subsequently discovered in other Member States. At the same time, sheep in the United Kingdom were badly hit by an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, which had an impact on meat consumption in general in other Member States as well as the United Kingdom.

(13) This situation, which was widely reported in the media, created a new crisis in the beef sector. As from October 2000, there was a sharp drop in consumption in a number of Member States, including France, but also a substantial reduction in French imports and exports; for example, the last two months of 2000 saw a 50 % drop in French imports compared with the same months in 1999. However, as from the middle of 2001, consumption in France recovered considerably, so that the decline for 2001 as a whole compared to 2000 was ultimately on a much smaller scale than anticipated (a decline of between 4 % and 5 %). Similarly, though it did not return to its original level, trade recovered substantially.

(14) The trend of beef production prices was as follows. Following the October 2000 crisis, prices fell significantly. Even though average slaughterhouse entry prices for cows rose again during the first half of 2001, they remained below the average prices for the first half of 1999 or 2000. As from the second half of 2001 in particular, prices started to fall again. Between September/October 2000 and September/October 2001, the decline may be put at about 20 % on the slaughterhouse entry prices for culled cows, i.e. cows for slaughter(11). At the beginning of October 2001, following four months of decline, slaughterhouse entry prices had fallen back to the level they had reached at the end of November 2000, at the height of the new beef crisis(12). However, it should be noted that, because of the reform of the common agricultural policy under "Agenda 2000", intervention prices had been reduced by 13,4 %, in return for an increase in direct aid for stock farmers. As from the 43rd week of 2001 (the week from 22 to 28 October 2001), the statistics produced by the federations in response to the request for information show a recovery in prices. For example, the slaughterhouse entry price for U3 cows(13) rose, per 100 kg carcase, from FRF (French francs) 1941 to FRF 1956, then to FRF 2025 and finally to FRF 2034 respectively for weeks 42 (the week before the agreement was signed), 43, 44 and 45 of 2001(14).

(15) By contrast, final consumer prices remained stable or increased slightly throughout 2001. This is partly due to the additional costs imposed by BSE, which, in France at any rate, are borne by intermediaries and passed on to the final consumer, or to the loss of income on certain parts of the animal no longer sold to the consumer(15). It is also possible that the decrease in volume sold was offset by an increase in the margins of the various operators involved up to the point of sale to the final consumer.

1.4. The common organisation of the market in beef and veal and the measures adopted to deal with the crisis

1.4.1. Common organisation of the market: general rules

(16) The common organisation of the market in beef and veal (the CMO), as applicable at the time of the events involved in this case, is based on Council Regulation (EC) No 1254/1999 (OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 21) (the basic Regulation).

(17) As the second recital to the basic Regulation states, "the aim of the common agricultural policy is to attain the objectives set out in Article 33 of the Treaty". It goes on to state that "in the beef and veal sector, in order to stabilise markets and to ensure a fair standard of living for the agricultural community, provision should be made for internal market measures comprising, in particular, direct payments to beef producers, private storage aid and a public storage scheme". The CMO is thus based on a comprehensive scheme of direct payments to farmers. A series of premiums is provided for by the Regulation, such as the suckler cow premium (Article 6 et seq. of the basic Regulation) and the slaughter premium (Article 11 of the basic Regulation).

(18) On the other hand, the mechanisms for public intervention, which were deemed to be "no longer indispensable to balance the market", were to be phased out gradually (see recital 20 to the basic Regulation). Accordingly, until 30 June 2002, the national intervention agencies were able to buy in products, under tender procedures, "to prevent or mitigate a substantial fall in prices" (Article 47 of the basic Regulation). The tender procedures could be opened whenever the following two conditions were both met for a period of two consecutive weeks:

- the average Community market price recorded on the basis of the Community grading scale(16) for the carcases of adult bovine animals is less than 84 % of the intervention price,

- the average market price recorded on the basis of the said scale in the Member State or States or regions of a Member State is less than 80 % of the intervention price (Article 47(3) of the basic Regulation).

Article 47(3) sets the intervention price at gradually decreasing levels from 1 January 2000 to 30 June 2002.

Under Article 47(2) of the basic Regulation, intervention buying-in may not cover more than 350000 tonnes per year for the Community as a whole.

(19) From 1 July 2002, Articles 26 and 27 of the basic Regulation introduced new mechanisms (namely, private storage aid and an intervention system known as the "safety net"). However, these mechanisms are not relevant here, given the period to which the facts involved in this case apply.

(20) The detailed rules for the application of the basic Regulation as regards the public intervention buying-in provided for in Articles 27 and 47 were laid down by Commission Regulation (EC) No 562/2000(17).

(21) Lastly, the basic Regulation provides that "when a substantial rise or fall in prices is recorded on the Community market and this situation is likely to continue, thereby disturbing or threatening to disturb the market, the necessary measures may be taken" (Article 38 of the basic Regulation).

1.4.2. Measures adopted to deal with the crisis

(22) The Community institutions adopted various measures to deal with the crisis that had been affecting the beef sector since October 2000.

(23) Acting on a proposal from the Commission, the Council amended the basic Regulation(18). Noting that the market had been "seriously disrupted because consumers (...) have lost confidence", it took the view that "a number of measures that seek to regulate the market by reducing future production should accordingly be adopted" (first recital to the Regulation). In particular, it raised the ceiling for intervention buying-in for 2001, increasing it from 350000 tonnes to 500000 tonnes.

(24) The Commission for its part implemented the instruments provided for in the basic Regulation. Use was made of the intervention mechanisms that allow certain quantities of cattle to be withdrawn from the market, so as to stabilise supply in relation to demand. The relevant rules were also amended so as to broaden their scope of application. For example, by way of derogation, intervention was extended to include products which had not hitherto been included and carcases of a weight greater than that hitherto authorised(19). These derogation measures were extended throughout 2001 and into the beginning of 2002(20).

(25) The Commission also adopted special new instruments under Article 38 of the basic Regulation (see recital 21 of this Decision).

(26) Firstly, on 18 December 2000, the Commission adopted Regulation (EC) No 2777/2000 adopting exceptional support measures for the beef market(21), applicable for the first half of 2001. The first recital in the Regulation states that "the Community beef market is currently going through a deep crisis due to a lack of consumer confidence in beef", with a fall in consumption and a substantial reduction in prices. The Regulation accordingly introduced an exceptional measure, pursuant to Article 38 of the basic Regulation. A purchase scheme was established, under certain conditions, for live animals that were to be subsequently slaughtered and destroyed, so as to prevent surpluses from developing on the market. Regulation (EC) No 2777/2000 specified that the purchase scheme would be co-financed by the Community at the rate of 70 %.

(27) Secondly, on 3 April 2001, the Commission adopted Regulation (EC) No 690/2001 on special market support measures in the beef sector(22). The Regulation introduces a purchase scheme, based on a tender procedure, for carcases or half carcases. Under the scheme, where certain price conditions are met, tendering is opened in the Member States. The meat purchased by the competent authorities in the Member States following the tender procedure (the purchase price is 70 % financed by the Community) is either destroyed or stored, for example for use in providing humanitarian aid. The Regulation, which was scheduled to expire at the end of December 2001, was extended until March 2002(23), "in order to avoid a further collapse of the market" (recital 2).

(28) All in all, during the year following the start of the second mad-cow crisis, more than 750000 tonnes of meat were thus withdrawn from the market, equivalent to more than 10 % of annual consumption in Europe(24).

(29) Lastly, under the Community rules governing State aid, the Commission authorised a number of Member States to grant aid to the beef sector. On 25 July 2001, the Commission declared French State aid of EUR 267 million granted to stock farmers hit by the BSE crisis compatible with Article 87(2)(b) of the Treaty(25). On 3 April 2002, the Commission declared a further grant of French state aid, amounting to EUR 75,5 million, to stock farmers hit by the crisis compatible with Article 87(2)(b) of the Treaty(26). France was the largest provider of direct state aid to farmers to help them deal with the October 2000 crisis.

1.5. The situation prior to the agreement of 24 October 2001

(30) Despite these measures to stabilise the market, deemed insufficient by the farmers, who blamed the different degrees of strictness in applying the measures from one Member State to another, relations between farmers and slaughterers in France became tense in September and October 2001. At that time, throughout most of France, groups of farmers illegally stopped lorries in order to check the origin of the meat being transported. In the documents drawn up by the farmers' unions, these illegal interceptions are generally described as "inspections" (contrôles). In addition, slaughterhouses were blockaded by farmers, who prevented any vehicles from entering or leaving the slaughterhouse and/or checked the geographical origin of the meat. These protests and their consequences were widely reported in the press(27). In most cases, the protest action resulted in the loss of meat which had gone bad after several days of being held up in a blockade, or in meat of non-French origin being burned. Occasionally, the protests resulted in material damage, sometimes on a very substantial scale. For example, on 15 October 2001, farmers ransacked two premises in the department of Ille et Vilaine and destroyed several tonnes of meat(28).

(31) These protests and blockades of slaughterhouses were particularly frequent in mid-October 2001, affecting establishments throughout France. In return for lifting blockades, the protesters made the slaughterers undertake to suspend imports and to apply what they called the union price scale. It appears that, in mid-October 2001, in order to prevent the decline in prices, the FNB decided to introduce a slaughterhouse-entry-price scale applicable to culled cows "because of the importance of this category"(29). The application of the price scale entailed the coordination of a number of measures, including measures against imports, particularly in the restaurant and catering industry(30), staff restaurants and canteens being large consumers of imported meat, which is cheaper(31). A few days after the price scale was adopted at national level, the FNB called on the unions to mobilise in order to ensure that it was applied. This meant not only press coverage(32), but also meetings with the slaughterers "in order to get the price scale adopted"(33). A number of major slaughterers in the Pays de Loire region agreed to apply the price scale as from 22 October 2001, following a blockade that had lasted several days(34). When signing one of the agreements, the FNB Vice-President described it as "historic", in that "beef prices have always been set on the basis of supply and demand" and "for the first time, a minimum price scale will determine market prices"(35). The press reported on such local agreements, noting that they also included a clause suspending imports up to 31 December 2001(36).

(32) Documents in the file show that, on a proposal from the FNB, the introduction of a price scale was discussed by the FNB, the FNSEA, the FNPL and the CNJA on 16 October 2001(37). The four federations agreed to do so(38). On that date, the price scale was also discussed with the "federations in the sector", but without reaching an agreement(39). A further meeting took place on 23 October 2001 in order to ensure "the application of the price scale set by the FNB Bureau", but no agreement was reached(40). In a notebook containing handwritten notes by the FNB's director, it is noted that the FNCBV's President and the FNICGV's representative stated that they did not have any mandate to negotiate a price scale; the following is also noted against their names: "the problem is the supply/demand surplus" and "we cannot operate on an artificial market"(41).

(33) A further meeting took place on 24 October 2001, at the request of the Minister for Agriculture. The Minister did not conceal his backing for the discussions that were taking place between the six federations, and some of the discussions were held on the Ministry's premises. On 24 October 2001, the Minister told the lower house of the French parliament: "I arranged for a cross-industry meeting to be held this morning at eight thirty in order to get everyone to face their responsibilities. People are now negotiating with the help of the Ministry, which is trying to iron out any difficulties. I would like to get downstream undertakings to agree to stop purchasing abroad for a few weeks, or indeed a few months. Of course, I have no means of obliging them to do so, the State cannot force them to do so. However (...) if such undertakings were to stop importing for two, three or six months, until stocks had run down, it would be an act of good citizenship". The Minister went on to state: "I would like to get all parties to agree to a fair purchasing price scale"(42).

(34) In the FNB director's handwritten notes on this meeting, under the heading "Ministry nego.", the following is noted at the outset: "Minister: - stopping imports: - there must be a price scale; - I will provide money if necessary"(43).

(35) A number of statements by the FNCBV President indicate that he actively supported the conclusion of the agreement. In an article published by the newspaper Ouest France on 31 October 2001, the FNCBV President states: "we have played a key role in getting the principle of a price scale accepted"(44). Similarly, in a memo sent by the FNCBV President to the FNSEA President on 9 November 2001, it is stated that "the FNCBV played an active role in the negotiations of 24 October which resulted in the agreement on a minimum price scale for cows"; the President makes the point: "I think that, with my federation, I made a major contribution to this"(45).

1.6. The provisions of the agreement of 24 October 2001

(36) The meeting held on 24 October 2001 culminated in an agreement between the FNSEA, the FNB, the FNPL, the CNJA, the FNICGV and the FNCBV.

1.6.1. Substance of the agreement

(37) The agreement concluded between the six federations on 24 October 2001 (but formally signed the next day(46)) covers two aspects.

(38) The first is a "temporary commitment to suspend imports" (engagement provisoire de suspension des importations). This commitment does not contain any specification as to the type of beef to which it applies. It therefore covers all types of beef imports, as is borne out by a number of documents found by the Commission during the investigations. For example, the FNB director's handwritten notes state, with regard to the FNSEA President's press conference on 25 October 2001: "suspension of all imports"(47). They also state, with regard to a draft reply to the Commission's request for information: "types of meat covered by the agreement: - price scales: carcases of culled cows; - commitment to temporarily suspend imports: all beef products"(48). The documents in the file, notably press articles, referring to "inspections" (contrôles) carried out by farmers as to the geographical origin of meat do not show that any distinction was made as to type of beef.

(39) The second aspect covered by the agreement relates to prices. This is a "commitment to apply the slaughterhouse entry purchase price scale to culled cows" (engagement d'application de la grille de prix d'achat entrée-abattoir en vaches de réforme) in accordance with the arrangements set out in the agreement. There then follows a list of prices per kilogram for certain categories of cow (mainly U and R category cows); in the case of other categories, the agreement stipulates how the price to be charged should be calculated, on the basis of the price deriving from the special purchase(49). Since the special purchase price was set every fortnight, the prices in the price scale were accordingly adjusted as from mid-November 2001(50).

(40) Broadly speaking, the prices thus set were some 10 % to 15 % higher than the prices the previous week(51).

1.6.2. Duration of the agreement

(41) The agreement was to enter into force on 29 October 2001 and remain in force until 30 November. Although the agreement does not make any provision for its continued application, it is in fact clear that the parties envisaged extending it beyond 1 December. The French Minister for Agriculture had, moreover, clearly stated in the lower house of parliament, during the first sitting on 24 October 2001, i.e. when the agreement was still being discussed, that the suspension of imports should cover "two, three or six months", and that he "would like to get the downstream undertakings to agree to stop purchasing abroad for a few weeks, or indeed a few months"(52). A number of documents, show that this was indeed the intention of the parties, or at least of some of them. These documents include the following:

- handwritten notes by the FNB's director at a press conference given by the FNSEA President on 25 October 2001 state the following: "effect Monday (...) and until 30 November. Meeting already planned for then, for the follow-up"(53),

- in those handwritten notes, on a page which is undated, but was probably written between 9 and 12 November 2001, given the context, it is stated, under the heading "imports": "not to be extended in the new December agreement"(54),

- an FNSEA memo of 7 November 2001 states: "a meeting with the undertakings is planned (evening of 20 November?) to discuss the agreement and prepare its renewal beyond 30 November"(55),

- in a joint memo dated 8 November 2001 from the four agricultural federations to the local and sectoral union organisations, it is explicitly stated: "in order to prepare the ground for the extension of the price scale after 30 November 2001, we believe it is essential that we should have all the information concerning the actions carried out, the difficulties encountered and the results achieved in the departments so as to allow proper application of the price scale"(56),

- in a memo found in the office of the FNSEA President, undated but written after 9 November 2001, since it refers to the Commission's request for information, it is stated, on the subject of the price scale, that "its renewal will be discussed on 27 November"(57),

- an FNB memo dated 30 October 2001 bears undated handwritten notes referring to an FNPL proposal that should be taken into account "when the price scale is renewed"(58),

- at the meeting of the FNPL's National Council held on 26 November 2001, the FNPL's General Secretary stated that "pursuing the agreement on the minimum price scale beyond 31 November 2001 is an important requirement"(59).

1.6.3. Reactions to the conclusion of the agreement and the "Rungis protocol" of 31 October 2001

(42) In a press release issued by the Ministry of Agriculture on 24 October 2001, it is stated that the Minister for Agriculture "warmly welcomes the agreement signed (...) which he had wished for, instigated and encouraged" and "congratulates the signatories on their keen sense of responsibility"(60).

(43) In a message sent to members on 24 October 2001, the FNICGV President stated: "the Minister for Agriculture, who brought us together for the meeting this morning, wanted us to reach an agreement with the farmers after a long and difficult day of negotiation"(61). The FNCBV President made the following remarks, reported in the newspaper Ouest France on 30 October 2001: "the Minister himself gave a commitment along these lines, indicating that he would ensure that the authorities did not challenge an agreement which the DGCCRF would otherwise have attacked"(62).

(44) There were numerous reactions from private parties following the signature of the agreement. Some members of the FNICGV, part of whose business was directly linked to imports, were highly critical of the part of the agreement relating to the suspension of imports(63). A memo sent by the FNICGV President to members on 31 October 2001 refers to a meeting to be held that same day with "a delegation of representatives from Dutch and German firms"(64). Similarly, Belgian, British, Dutch, German and Spanish farmers' federations criticised this aspect of the agreement, which they denounced. For example, at a meeting between the Vice-President and Director of the FNB and a delegation of Dutch and German agricultural undertakings and federations, probably held on 31 October 2001(65), the delegation demanded that the suspension of imports be lifted(66). A Dutch-Belgian importer/exporter stated at the meeting that, by way of retaliation, a boycott might be imposed on French products(67). A number of farmers' federations also complained in writing to the French representatives(68). At a meeting held by the Committee of Agricultural Organisations in the European Union (COPA) on 20 November 2001, a number of federations from other Member States again expressed their dissatisfaction, pointing out in particular that closing borders would not solve the beef crisis(69). Lastly, the federations representing downstream operators were highly critical of the agreement as regards both its price and import components(70). The European Livestock and Meat Trading Union also wrote to the Competition DG on 16 January 2002 to denounce the agreement and the damage caused by the blockades of some of its members' abattoirs.

(45) A further meeting between the parties that had signed the agreement took place on 31 October 2001 at Rungis, at the instigation of the FNICGV(71), which was concerned at its members' difficulties in complying with the requirement that imports be temporarily suspended. The federations which had signed the agreement of 24 October 2001 came up with a new compromise (the Rungis protocol), which was formulated as follows: "in the unprecedented crisis situation currently facing producers, the representatives of the farmers urge importers and exporters to be aware of the seriousness of the crisis. In response, the importers and exporters undertake to demonstrate solidarity"(72).

1.7. The renewal of the agreement after the end of November

1.7.1. Preparing the way for renewing the agreement

(46) As already noted, the agreement of 24 October 2001 was initially concluded for a period ending on 30 November 2001. It was, however, clear that the agreement was to be renewed (see recital 41 of this Decision).

(47) The documents in the Commission's possession show that the follow-up to the agreement was being discussed as from mid-November.

(48) Thus, the FNB director's handwritten notes, found by the Commission during the investigation carried out on the FNB's premises, state, under the heading "future of the agreement"(73): "imports: impossible to re-sign. What instructions for action to be taken (...). What 'official line'? Should reference be made publicly to Com. interest in the case? Yes. We hope conduct will be 'civic' and 'careful of consumer information', 'advantages of local contacts'". Following a subheading "prices", it is stated: "difficult to re-sign documents. Reach agreement (?). How to organise pressure? (...) JB-PDL experience: recommendations! FNB recommendation: we continue to take the view following termination of the agreement that it is legitimate for farmers to obtain price scale prices"(74).

(49) With regard to a discussion which took place on 20 November 2001 (it is not evident from the document who the participants were), the FNB director notes in particular: "create permanent harassment: continuous presence. Without media coverage. Continue on imports (...). Imports: don't say it, and certainly don't write it"(75).

(50) The FNB director's handwritten notes also refer to discussions for which no date is indicated, but which, given the context, must have taken place between 22 and 27 November 2001. Under the general heading "'sector agreement': what prospects after end November?", it is stated: "course of action 1: continuing with written agreement: refusal FNICGV, pb Commission. Course of action 2: moving on from the agreement"(76).

(51) A number of documents show that, up until very late November, consideration was being given to renewal of the agreement.

(52) An e-mail sent by a representative of the FRSEA Brittany to the FNB and the presidents of local federations in his region on 28 November 2001 states: "continuation of the price scale over the weeks ahead: all the slaughterers encountered said they were willing to maintain the price scale if all the operators also undertook to do so"(77).

(53) Another e-mail sent to the FNB on 26 November 2001 from the department of Côtes-d'Armor states that the price scale is being "correctly applied" in three abattoirs visited and that "these abattoirs have undertaken to continue applying the price scale if the national cross-industry commitment to apply the price scale is renewed. We hope that the negotiations tomorrow will succeed and that we can come back to ask them to give a commitment that they will apply it"(78).

1.7.2. Announcement that the agreement would not be renewed

(54) On 19 November 2001, i.e. a few days after having received the Commission's request for information (see recital 3 of this Decision), the FNICGV President, realising the risk of fines being imposed on the federation's members for infringing the competition rules, informed the FNSEA President that he felt "obliged to bring forward to today the final date of application of the agreement, initially scheduled for 30 November 2001"(79).

(55) In response to the Commission's letter of formal notice of 26 November 2001 (see recital 4 of this Decision), all the federations stated that the agreement of 24 October 2001 would not be extended beyond 30 November, each of them stressing that the agreement had already been terminated a few days before by one of the parties.

(56) A document entitled "info flash" issued by the FNICGV on 30 November 2001 refers to a meeting held on 29 November 2001. It states: "The minimum purchase price scale for culled cows concluded on 24 October 2001 has not been and will not be renewed. This is the conclusion reached at the meeting held yesterday in Paris in the presence of the signatories of the agreement"(80).

1.7.3. The meeting held on 29 November 2001

(57) The FNB director's handwritten notes, found during the investigation carried out at the FNB's headquarters, contain a number of passages relating to the meeting held on 29 November 2001. On a page bearing in the top right-hand corner the boxed heading "meeting Thursday 29 November 8.00" (given the context, the notes were probably taken during preparations for the meeting held on 29 November), it is stated: "negotiate your price scales regionally. Reply to the Commission. OK, we accept non-renewal of the agreement. Recommendation price scale: should we put it in writing? In the union newspaper: yes (in the form of recommendations) (...). Speak of indicative prices"(81). With regard to the price scale: "cannot be renewed as it stands, given its reprehensible character. Pressure should continue to apply the intervention prices (in fact, this means applying the price scale). Avoid any frantic communication with one another"(82).

(58) The handwritten notes then contain comments on a page headed in the top right-hand corner "discussion 29 November 2001" followed by a series of initials (the Commission is not able to identify all the participants, but some of the initials are clearly those of two of the Vice-Presidents, the Director and the General Secretary of the FNB, the FNPL Director who signed the Rungis protocol on behalf of the FNPL, the FNCBV President and the FNICGV President. Two other sets of initials are probably those of the CNJA representatives(83)). It is stated on several occasions that it is necessary to "continue"(84). Then, alongside the initials of the FNICGV President, it is stated: "signed agreement: we cannot continue it. OK to comply with a price set for withdrawal". There follows a series of figures with the underlined phrase in the margin: "OK agreement"(85).

(59) The following handwritten page comprises a series of expressions: "indicative price, remunerative price, target-related price, farmer-target price, target price, farmer target". This is followed by the initials of the FNICGV President and the phrase: "I will write nothing/tel.". Then, under a subheading "Press release", it is stated "price scale = anti-EEC therefore we stop, but we take action to recommend prices, we farmers, union objectives"(86).

(60) Lastly, under the heading "summary", it is stated: "'agreement' (verbal/tel.) on compliance with the 'farmer-target prices'", followed by a number of prices for certain types of meat. "How: through union action, recommendations"(87). Another handwritten page states "by general agreement, we will no longer communicate in writing"(88). Another handwritten document, undated (but written after 27 November 2001) states, following an indication that caution is required: "careful about putting things in writing restrictive agreement"(89).

(61) A number of handwritten pages reflect local representatives' difficulties in understanding the arrangements(90). The FNB organised a telephone conference on 4 December 2001 with its regional representatives in order to explain "'the target price' approach on beef"(91).

(62) Other handwritten notes state the following: "'Agreement [ other binding terms] on abiding by the union target price' (...). Praise the good citizenship of the abattoirs in the press (cite the good ones). 'Agreement to make the market more ethical'. Union recommendations"(92).

(63) In an interview given by the FNB Vice-President on 4 December 2001, available on the FNSEA website, the FNB Vice-President states: "last week, we pointed out the usefulness of this price scale in stopping the downward spiral of prices. The undertakings recognise its impact, but at the same time want to comply with the recommendations issued by Brussels. Henceforth, we will no longer speak of agreement on a price scale, but of a target in terms of floor prices. We still insist on the idea of a union price scale". In reply to the question "Have all the undertakings received a message asking them to maintain the prices thus discussed?", the FNB Vice-President replies: "There is nothing in writing on this new 'agreement'. Just words. But extremely important in scope. The representatives of the undertakings at national level have also communicated verbally the content of our discussions". Lastly, on the implementing arrangements, the Vice-President states: "As regards prices, they must be in line with those discussed last week. If this were not to be the case, we will blockade the offending abattoirs. Furthermore, on Tuesday, four delegations once again requested accounts from the four Vendée abattoirs. We are asking them if they received instructions identical to ours from their national structures. We will see what is the weight of words, after the impact of the written document"(93).

(64) Similarly, a document dated 5 December 2001, accessible on the FDSEA Vendée website and reproduced on the FNSEA website, states: "the verbal agreement reached at the end of last week by the beef sector is slow in being applied in practice in the field. Like a month ago. The recalcitrant slaughterers are still the same ones. Of course, there is no longer any reference to a cross-industry agreement. 'OK', explains the FDSEA, 'But we are converting the price scale signed a month ago into a real union price scale by means of a requirement that these floor prices be applied throughout the country'. The whole sector should communicate on this 'agreement' at the beginning of the week". After having noted that, during a visit to an abattoir, the person in charge had said that he "has received nothing from his national superiors", the document continues: "as to the immediate and total application of this price scale throughout the country, the slaughterers can trust the FDSEA. 'On Monday, if there is no solution, we will blockade once again'. The FNSEA urges all the departments to do the same". After a reference to discussions between the protesters and a slaughterer, the document states: "the persons in charge of the abattoir had talks with (the FNICGV President). He confirmed last week's discussions". Lastly, quoting one of the leaders of the FDSEA Vendée, the memo continues: "'All slaughtered animals in the department which are not in line with our scale of floor prices must be notified by fax to the FDSEA. On the basis of such information, we will decide whether or not to blockade the offending undertakings'. The Vendée leaders forcefully repeated this message to all the FDSEA people meeting in Paris until Thursday. The price scale therefore still exists. Although it is not a cross-industry scale, it remains a union scale. Until the very end"(94).

1.7.4. The meeting held on 5 December 2001

(65) On 5 December 2001, a "national beef day" (journée nationale viande bovine) organised by the FNSEA was held(95). The afternoon was given over to a round table discussion(96), attended by representatives of the various parties which had signed the agreement of 24 October 2001.

(66) An e-mail sent on 6 December 2001 by an FRSEA Brittany representative to the FDSEA presidents of his region, which was found by the Commission during its investigation at the FNSEA, reads as follows: "following yesterday's meeting, three priorities emerged from the discussions: ensuring minimum price levels for females, freeing markets, reflecting on control. On the first point, while there is no longer any agreement on the official price for the reasons set out in my last message, everybody agreed on the need to maintain through union pressure the prices for females at the existing price scale level by updating it on the basis of the prices determined at special purchase (...). On this aspect of the minimum prices, the FNICGV and FNCBV national presidents said they were aware of the need to maintain market prices and to get their members to see this need. Nevertheless we will have no written agreement on this point and the maintenance of prices will depend on our capacity to exert sufficient pressure in the sector. So I suggest that as from the end of this week you should enter into contact (either by telephone or by delegation) with the slaughterers in your department so as to check up on their commitment to maintain prices on the existing and updated basis and to alert them to the union action which we will be able to implement as from next week in the event of any failure to comply with this commitment"(97).

(67) In a weekly information memo issued by the FNPL, the "national beef day" is summarised as follows: "a union day which has avoided a milk-meat war, confirmed the continuation of the price scale and enabled a lot of participants to express themselves. Most of the morning was given over to presentation of the establishment and application of the various price scales (weanlings, young cattle in the Loire region and cows). All in all, maintenance of the price scale is necessary and involves union pressure, even if there are problems of application. The price scale is, however, an intermediate stage, the target is to bring production into line with the market (...). The afternoon was given over to the round table discussion. The representatives of the slaughterers (the FNCBV and FNICGV Presidents) took note of the unwritten renewal of the price scale". Under the heading "problem application of the price scale calves for slaughtering", it is stated: "one abattoir (in the department of Saône-et-Loire) is not applying the price scale, considers the producers' claims unacceptable and, in the event of union action, is threatening to alert the authorities and the European Commission. The message (of the FNICGV President) does not seem clear or firm!"(98).

(68) In the FNB director's handwritten notes, copied by the Commission during the investigation carried out on the FNB's premises, six pages are given over to the national beef day held on 5 December 2001(99). As regards imports, it is stated "we're to stop saying 'against imports', and go to restaurants and catering"(100). After the initials of the FNSEA President, it is stated: "a mistake: to have stated suspension of imports in writing, but we have been rapped over the knuckles by Brussels and others in COPA. Without putting it in writing, let us continue with 'target prices' or prices below which we don't want prices (to fall). We are sure that sector partners commit to price policy". It is also stated: "writing prohibited"(101).

(69) On the round table discussion held on 5 December 2001, it is stated under the heading "the agreement of 25 October", after the initials of the FNB general secretary: "union objective: continue". There follow comments from the FNCBV and FNICGV Presidents. Under the first, it is stated: "we can no longer put in writing, but continue". Under the second: "we will maintain commitment on special purchase price. Message passed to our undertakings. Therefore + 30 to + 40 cts. Informally, the price scale will continue". Then the FNCBV President once again: "yes OK. But it must be applied by everyone"(102). Lastly, by way of conclusion, under the initials of the FNSEA President, it is stated: "the price scale does not stop. But not in writing, in practice. We will go to speak with those who do not comply"(103).

(70) Similarly, in a memo dated 14 December 2001, published on the FDSEA Marne website, the President of the FDB in the department of Marne states: "Since the signed agreement has run foul of European regulations, we will apply it without signature (...). Anyone who deviates from the chosen path must be put back on track"(104).

1.8. Implementation of the agreement

1.8.1. General

(71) To quote the terms used in the document itself, the document concluded between the six federations on 24 October 2001 was an "agreement" (accord) comprising "commitments" (engagements) entered into on behalf of the federations. The fact that the federations considered themselves bound by this commitment is moreover evident from the announcements they made immediately after the conclusion of the agreement. For example, on 25 October 2001, the four agricultural federations sent a memo to the representatives of all the local and sectoral federations in which reference is made to "the agreement" (l'accord) obtained and in which it is stated: "each of us must now be very careful to ensure strict application of the agreement throughout the country, starting next Monday"(105). Similarly, the fax sent by the FNICGV President to members on 24 October 2001 leaves no doubt as to the existence of an agreement which had to be implemented(106). This is, moreover, how operators understood the agreement. A formal report drawn up by a bailiff on 24 October 2001 at the request of a slaughterer in Saône-et-Loire states that the FDSEA representative wanted to conclude a local agreement with the slaughterer; the slaughterer "stated that there was no point in doing so since the national agreements applied throughout the country"(107). Similarly, an FNICGV member, replying to the above-mentioned fax from the FNICGV president, stated that he had taken note of the agreement (though he did not like it) and that he was "taking every step to comply with it immediately"(108).

(72) The agricultural federations immediately called on their members to disseminate as far as possible the price scale adopted, to ensure that it was applied(109) and to report immediately any failure to apply the price scale(110). The FDSEA Vendée President stated in an interview published in the newspaper La Vendée agricole on 2 November 2001: "the time for discussion is past. National federations signed the agreement with the FNSEA and its specialised associations on 25 October at 9.00. The price scale now applies throughout the country and to all undertakings"(111).

(73) Numerous local agreements were also concluded in order to "ratify" the national agreement at local level(112). These were agreements concluded between the local farmers' federations (generally at department level) with one or more individual slaughterers. The conclusion of these agreements, in return for lifting the blockade on the abattoirs, took place immediately after the national agreement had been signed, but also throughout the month of November. Sometimes there were only verbal agreements to abide by the national agreement(113).

(74) Generally speaking, the documents in the file show that the local agreements were carbon copies of the national agreement concluded on 24 October 2001(114). Where local agreements were not concluded, slaughterers ran the risk of blockades of their plants until they agreed to sign(115). In some cases, slaughterers did not give in and obtained expulsion orders from the French judicial authorities(116).

(75) However, in some instances, these agreements went beyond what had been provided for. In particular, although the part of the agreement of 24 October 2001 concerning the suspension of imports had been reformulated by the Rungis protocol of 31 October 2001, it is evident from the file that local agreements concluded in November none the less continued to include explicitly a ban on imports(117). In one instance of which the Commission has knowledge, the local agreement was concluded by other operators in the sector, such as the local livestock dealers' union(118).

(76) The involvement of the downstream sectors seems to have been discussed immediately after the national agreement was signed. In particular, it was planned to involve the large-scale distribution and restaurant and catering sectors. However, the documents in the file provide no evidence that these sectors were involved in the adoption or application of the price scale(119). In their replies to the Commission's requests for information of 9 November 2001, the federations confirmed that they did not possess any documents exchanged with distributors on the disputed agreement.

1.8.2. Imports

(77) As noted above, the agreement concluded on 24 October 2001 included a commitment on the "suspension of imports", applicable to all beef products. On 31 October 2001, the Rungis protocol moderated the terms of this commitment, referring only to "solidarity".

(78) The statistics available to the Commission show that, in the week following the signature of the agreement, the percentage of beef of non-French origin sold at the Rungis market decreased, though not significantly. Its level thus remained above that which had existed two weeks previously(120). The FNICGV also produced, as an annex to its reply to the letter of formal notice (see recital 4 of this Decision), tables setting out the volumes of imports marketed at Rungis in the period from 1 October to 26 October 2001 and in the period from 1 November to 27 November 2001; the figures show that the volume of imports passing through Rungis not only did not decrease in November compared with October, but actually increased(121). However, it should be noted that, in Annexes 5 and 6 to its reply to the statement of objections, the FNICGV produced two new tables, one entitled "table showing imports of beef on to the French market" (tableau d'importations des viandes bovines sur le marché français), the other entitled "table showing imports of fresh meat on to the French market" (tableau d'importations des viandes fraîches sur le marché français). The tables show an appreciable decline in imports in November 2001 compared with October 2001, and in December 2001 compared with November 2001. In January 2002, however, the level of imports rose sharply. Thus, between October and December 2001, imports from Germany and the Netherlands, the main exporters to France, fell respectively by more than 25 % and more than 14 %, but rose 24 % and 29 % in January 2002. At the hearing, the FNICGV representative explained that this might be due to cyclical phenomena which were normal at this time of year(122) and that these fluctuations were due to factors other than the agreement.

(79) It should be noted that the local agreements signed after the agreement of 24 October included a provision on the suspension of imports. However, there is nothing to indicate that the Rungis protocol affected the previous local agreements. In addition, in spite of the protocol, the local agreements concluded after 31 October 2001 continued to contain a provision on the suspension of imports; they continued to refer to the "commitment to temporarily suspend imports (including European imports) pending further national negotiations"(123).

(80) The day the agreement was signed on 24 October 2001, the FNB and FNSEA called for a boycott of non-French meat and threatened those who did not apply the boycott with reprisals(124). As from 30 October, protests by farmers took place, with meat originating in other Member States being destroyed(125). Various documents (e-mail, memo, message on the FDSEA website) bear witness to "inspections" of the origin of meat being carried out by local agricultural federations in various departments during the months of November and December. In a fax sent by the FRSEA Basse-Normandie to the FNB director on 9 November 2001, it is stated: "Orne and Calvados are carrying out inspections of lorries carrying imported meat: nothing to report"(126). An e-mail sent to the FNB on 13 November 2001 under the heading "inspection of beef imports Loire-et-Cher" states: "we carried out measures this morning to inspect the origin of beef. We have found meat from Holland, Germany and Poland"(127). In a fax sent by an FDSEA Maine-et-Loire representative to the FNB director on 11 December 2001, under the heading "inspection in abattoirs in Maine-et-Loire", it is stated: "no anomaly found - scale applied - no imports"(128).

1.8.3. Prices

(81) The tables showing average prices per week for various categories of meat, produced by the federations in their reply to the request for information (see recital 3 of this Decision), show that, for each of the categories, the price started to rise as from week 43 (the week in which the agreement of 24 October 2001 was signed) following some 20 weeks of decline(129) (see recital 14 of this Decision).

(82) The implementation and the effects of the price scale of 24 October 2001 are borne out by documentary evidence.

(83) Firstly, numerous documents reflect the dissemination of the price scale to members through the press or by mail(130).

(84) Secondly, in a document entitled "Application and supervision of the union price scale", accessible on the FNSEA's website and dated 14 November 2001, the FNB Vice-President states: "despite the initial fits and starts, the first fortnight suggests that the price scale is being applied in the four abattoirs in the department [Vendée]", a statement based on checks carried out in the abattoirs. The document notes that "checks are being carried out at a steady pace"(131).

(85) Thirdly, in an FNSEA memo dated 7 November 2001 and entitled "Beef: current situation", it is stated: "it appears today that the price scale is being relatively well applied in the O and P categories. It is apparently being a little less well applied in the beef breeds, particularly R cows, where the price difference seems to be too great"(132). In a memo drafted by the FNSEA on 15 November 2001, it is stated, with regard to the price scale, under the heading "sectoral files - 1. beef": "the price scale is, on the whole, being complied with by operators; even if occasionally union action proves necessary"(133). A third memo, undated, but written between 9 and 15 November(134), states that "appreciable effects have been recorded for U and R cows and less appreciable effects for O and P cows. Problem of downgrading in the application of the price scale".

(86) Fourthly, in a letter dated 20 November 2001, the FDB Aude President states that "it has been confirmed to us that the application of the agreement is not always complied with or is complied with only under certain conditions set by the purchaser"(135). In a fax sent by the FDSEA Finistère to the FNB on 19 November 2001, the following handwritten comment has been added: "we have not received any complaints from farmers for non-compliance with the price scale"(136). In a fax sent by the FDSEA Pas-de-Calais to the FNB on 29 November 2001, under the heading "compliance with the price scale", it is stated: "generally speaking, the price scale has been complied with as from the first week. Prices have been slightly higher in S2 and S3 before being limited S4 and S5. The presence of an FDSEA representative noting all the prices on the market seems to have worried the slaughterers, who abided by the price scale"(137).

(87) Fifthly, an e-mail sent to the FNB on 26 November 2001 from the department of Côtes-d'Armor states: "this morning 150 farmers went to three abattoirs (...). They found that the minimum price scale is being properly applied"(138). Another e-mail sent by the FRSEA Brittany President to, amongst others, the FNB on 28 November 2001 also reports that the price scale was being complied with by the abattoirs inspected, such compliance being variously described as "total" or "comprehensive"(139).

(88) Sixthly, in the FNB director's handwritten notes, similar comments appear. Thus, with regard to an FNB Council meeting(140), it is stated, with regard to the department of Aveyron: "pb on reform inconsistent applic. price scale", and with regard to the department of Cantal: "price scale: pb on the R"(141). A few pages further on, under the title "'sector agreement': what prospects after end November?", it is stated: "assessment. 'Price scale' aspect: an increase in prices of the order of 0,75 F/kg has been observed for R and U cows during the week (...) and a rise of a few cts/kg for P and O cows. Apart from Angers, the regional slaughterhouse entry prices have not been aligned on the price scale"(142). Lastly, handwritten notes made at a region meeting in Clermont-Ferrand on 3 December 2001 refer to the price scale and state "it's working: we are winning. The situation is turning round"(143).

(89) The implementation of the price scale established by the farmers' unions and endorsed by the slaughterers' federations at the end of November/beginning of December 2001 is also borne out by a number of documents.

(90) In the first place, the price scale was reported in the press, the term used being "union recommendations"(144).

(91) Then again, the day after the meeting held on 5 December 2001, the FNSEA President wrote to all the presidents of local and specialised federations asking them "to mobilise [their] network so as to check, as from Monday 10 December among operators in the sector, the prices charged for the purchase of cattle"(145).

(92) A fax sent by the FDSEA Maine-et-Loire to the FNB on 11 December 2001 comprises the results of a "check" carried out by farmers amongst abattoirs in the department. The fax states: "price scale applied", even though the author is surprised that it is being fully applied and wonders whether the farmers have not been "duped"(146).

(93) Several news reports published on FDSEA websites refer to new blockades of abattoirs in mid-December 2001. For example, from 17 to 19 December, the abattoirs of a slaughter group, "the only one in France opposed to the application of the price scale" according to one of these news reports, were blockaded. The group finally agreed to apply the price scale until 11 January 2002(147).

(94) During the investigation carried out on the premises of the FNB, a copy was taken of a one-page document headed "fax received from FDSEA 79, 13/12/01, 17:31". The document is entitled "agreement of 25 October 2001 (renewed) signed and deemed applicable by the FNSEA, the FNB, the FNICGV and the FNCBV/SICA" and comprises a table "union 'minimum price' scale". At the foot of the page, it is stated: "all the groups which are co-signatories of this agreement have asked the agricultural and trade union organisations to take steps to ensure that this price scale is complied with, through any action which in their eyes may justify intervention with each operator in the sector"(148). It should be noted that an identical document was sent by the FDSEA Deux-Sèvres to a slaughterer on 13 December 2001(149).

(95) It should be noted, lastly, that a number of documents stress the link between checks on imports and checks on prices. For example, on 24 October 2001, the day on which the price scale was discussed amongst the six federations, the Fédération française des commerçants en bestiaux sent a letter to the French Minister for Agriculture stating: "in a market economy, there cannot be any authoritarian setting of market prices without, at the same time, setting up a whole arsenal of protective measures at frontiers against foreign competition"(150). Furthermore, as early as 11 October 2001, when it was discussing the establishment of a minimum price scale, the FNB was aware that a number of actions would be necessary in order to achieve this result. The first of such actions listed by the FNB in a memo providing "information to the beef sections" related precisely to imports, in particular in the restaurant and catering sector(151). Furthermore, the public documents in the Commission's possession, whether press articles or news reports published on the FNSEA and FDSEA website, show that the "inspections" carried out by the farmers' federations in the abattoirs from October to December related almost systematically to the price charged and to whether or not there was any imported meat.

2. MAIN COMMENTS OF THE PARTIES

(96) In their written replies to the statement of objections and at the hearing, the various federations put forward the following arguments.

(97) The FNSEA argued essentially that:

- the agreement cannot be seen in isolation from the background against which it was signed, namely, an unprecedented crisis in the beef sector which began in October 2000. The crisis resulted in a considerable drop in prices, with no prospect of a return to normal in the medium term. The Community measures taken to deal with the crisis, which were not properly applied by some Member States, proved insufficient. Over and above the crisis in the sector, a human crisis developed, with farmers facing hardship and resorting to sometimes violent protest action. This situation eventually led to breakdowns in law and order. The agreement concluded on 24 October 2001, which was essentially a media exercise, "was the only means of restoring hope and industrial peace"(152),

- the FNSEA is neither an undertaking nor an association of undertakings. It is a trade union which does not have any means of compelling its members. It maintains that the agreement was not anticompetitive, but fitted "into the union framework of defending the interests of the trade" of livestock farmers, which constitutes a "task of general interest"(153). The FNSEA also argued that the FNCBV is an association of cooperatives and that there cannot be any such thing as an agreement between a cooperative and its members,

- the agreement of 24 October 2001 was not renewed. However, decisions are not passed on immediately at local level and, at all events, non-renewal does not prevent the continuation of union action,

- the part of the agreement that related to imports "was by its nature contestable"(154). However, it was a response to an exceptional situation, was of short duration since it "ceased at the end of November 2001"(155) and had no effect,

- the price agreement does not constitute an illegal agreement. It is at all events covered by the second exception in Article 2 of Regulation No 26. This is because the agreement is "necessary" for attainment of the objectives of the common agricultural policy set out in Article 33(1)(b) and (c) of the Treaty and is not "contrary to the achievement of the other objectives of Article 33"(156),

- the Minister for Agriculture publicly urged signing of the agreement,

- as far as imports are concerned, the infringement ended very rapidly. The incidents known to the Commission after 1 December are too isolated to prolong its duration beyond that date,

- at all events, given the general context in which the agreement of 24 October 2001 was concluded, the short duration of the "imports" aspects and the lack of impact, no fine should be imposed.

(98) The FNB and the FNPL sent comments to the FNSEA. The FNPL also pointed out that it was a union, belonging to the FNSEA.

(99) The JA essentially made the following points:

- the crisis affecting the beef sector since October 2000 was unprecedented. It entailed substantial losses of income for stock farmers, with no prospect of improvement. It created a deep-seated malaise in the sector. At the hearing, the JA stressed more particularly that the purpose of the agreement was to send a message of hope to farmers affected by a serious psychological crisis,

- the JA is a union of persons, and not an association of undertakings,

- the agreement on the suspension of imports was symbolic and was of very short duration.

(100) The FNCBV essentially argued that the agreement of 24 October 2001 was not renewed. Its non-renewal did not, however, prevent its continued application in the following weeks. In actual fact, the effects of the national agreement gradually faded and had ended by Christmas 2001.

(101) The FNICGV argued as follows:

- in the autumn of 2001, the crisis affecting the beef sector reached its climax, resulting in numerous breakdowns in law and order. The "objective" goal of the agreement was simply to uphold law and order,

- the FNICGV terminated the initial agreement as early as 19 November 2001. It did not participate in any secret renewal of the agreement. The documents used as evidence originate only from the farmers' unions. They reveal nothing more than the existence of a unilateral price scale adopted by the farmers' unions,

- the agreement was concluded under the threat of violence on the part of the farmers, which in French law constitutes a ground for nullity of contracts (Articles 1111 and 1112 of the French Civil Code). Moreover, it was not in the slaughterers' interest to conclude such an agreement,

- the agreement relates only to a very limited quantity of animals,

- the FNICGV has no means of imposing anything on its members. Indeed, some refused to carry out the agreement concluded at national level. Nor did the agreement provide for any retaliatory measures,

- with regard more particularly to the provisions relating to imports, the agreement did not produce any effect,

- the Minister for Agriculture "strongly urged farmers and slaughterers to reach an agreement". Consequently, he "imposed anticompetitive conduct on the undertakings"(157),

- with regard to fines, the facts of the case justify a moderate assessment.

3. LEGAL ASSESSMENT

3.1. Infringement of Article 81(1) of the EC Treaty

(102) Article 81(1) of the EC Treaty states that "The following shall be prohibited as incompatible with the common market: all agreements between undertakings (...) which may affect trade between Member States and which have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition within the common market".

3.1.1. Undertakings and associations of undertakings

(103) It has to be considered whether the members of the federations involved are "undertakings" within the meaning of Article 81, and then whether the federations themselves are "associations of undertakings" within the meaning of that provision.

3.1.1.1. Undertakings

(104) It is settled case-law that "the concept of an undertaking covers any entity engaged in an economic activity, regardless of its legal status and the way in which it is financed"(158). Even a natural person may constitute an "undertaking" if that person engages in an economic activity(159). "Any activity consisting in offering goods and services on a given market is an economic activity"(160).

(105) Four of the federations involved here represent farmers. There is no doubt that farmers engage in an economic activity, that of producing goods and offering them for sale. Even though they may be natural persons, therefore, farmers are "undertakings" within the meaning of Article 81 of the Treaty. Indeed if they did not engage in an economic activity Regulation No 26 would serve no purpose, as the competition rules would not apply in agriculture in any event.

(106) Slaughterers perform for gain the service of slaughtering animals, and offer the products of their work for sale. They too are "undertakings".

(107) It is true that some slaughterers are organised in the form of cooperatives; the FNCBV itself is a federation of cooperatives. But in a case involving a cooperative society in Denmark it was held that the fact that a body was a cooperative organised in accordance with the law of a Member State did not affect the economic nature of its activity(161). In reply to the argument put forward by the FNSEA (see recital 97 of this Decision, at the end of the second indent), it will be enough to point out that the agreement which is the subject of this Decision is not a matter of the relations between a cooperative and its members, but an agreement between six distinct entities, namely the federations to which the Decision is addressed.

(108) It has to be concluded, therefore, that the members of the federations involved are "undertakings" within the meaning of Article 81 of the Treaty.

3.1.1.2. Associations of undertakings

(109) The federations in the case, which bring together "undertakings" within the meaning of Article 81 of the Treaty, are consequently associations of undertakings, or associations of associations of undertakings.

(110) The FNSEA and the JA have argued that they are organised in the form of trade unions (syndicats professionels) under Title IV of the French Labour Code, and consequently do not constitute associations of undertakings. But the Court of Justice has held that the legal framework within which agreements are made, and the classification given to that framework by the various national legal systems, are irrelevant as far as the applicability of Article 81 of the Treaty is concerned(162).

(111) Article 81 applies to non-profit-making associations in so far as their own activities or the activities of undertakings affiliated to them are calculated to produce the effects which it aims to suppress(163).

(112) The Commission recognises the importance of trade union freedom, which as the FNSEA points out is referred to in particular in Article 12(1) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union(164). The Commission does not in any way underestimate the work of information, advice and protection of their members' interests performed by organisations representing particular occupations or professions. But such organisations step outside those terms of reference when they assist in the conclusion and implementation of agreements that are in breach of rules of public policy such as the competition rules. The conclusion of an agreement such as the one at issue here, an agreement between agricultural organisations and organisations of downstream operators which is aimed at suspending imports and setting a minimum purchase price, exceeds the limits of legitimate trade union action.

(113) In a wide variety of industries, including agriculture, the French Competition Board has frequently taken decisions holding that the rules of competition have been infringed by professional or trade associations that have gone beyond their legitimate role, and has imposed fines on them(165).

(114) In reality, while it is essential that trade unions be free to represent their members' interests, that does not entitle such associations to engage in unlawful conduct. Quite the reverse, their role ought to be to seek to prevent such conduct.

(115) From the documents in the case it is clear that even when they signed the agreement the parties were aware, or could not have been unaware, that it was incompatible with the Community rules. In handwritten notes by one of the directors of the FNB, dated 25 October and concerning the press conference on the agreement, there is the indication "against the law"(166), and more explicit again, after the name of the President of the FNCBV, "a bit against the law, but can't be helped"(167). With regard to the meeting on 29 October, the same notes remark "DGCCRF + Competition Board!!!"(168). In fact these notes make it clear that discussions on a possible scale of prices took place as early as the beginning of October 2001. At a meeting on 2 October 2001, after the initials of the President of the FNSEA, there are the words "it's anticompetitive, but commitment" (c'est anticoncurrentiel, mais engagement, document 38.279/950). After the name of the President of the FNCBV are the words "Can we close ranks? without being caught out by the DGCCRF?" (peut-on se serrer les coudes? sans se faire prendre en faute par la DGCCRF? document 38.279/951). Immediately after the signature of the agreement, outside parties complained to the President of the FNSEA that it was illegal (see recital 44 of this Decision). The statements that the President of the FNCBV made to the press regarding the DGCCRF also show that the parties were perfectly aware that the agreement between them was illegal (see recital 43 of this Decision)(169).

(116) It should be recalled, in any event, that the decisions of the Commission and the judgments of the Court of First Instance and Court of Justice of the European Communities offer numerous examples of associations which were perfectly legitimate in themselves but which nevertheless provided a framework for infringements of the competition rules(170).

(117) The six federations that are party to the agreement therefore constitute associations of undertakings (or associations of associations of undertakings) within the meaning of Article 81 of the Treaty.

3.1.2. Agreement

(118) It is undisputed that for there to be an "agreement" within the meaning of Article 81 of the Treaty it is not necessary that the parties should consider it legally binding. An "agreement" may exist where the parties reach a consensus on a plan which limits or is likely to limit their commercial freedom by determining the lines of their mutual action or abstention from action in the market. No enforcement procedures such as might be foreseen in case of a civil law contract are required. Nor is it necessary for such an agreement to be made in writing.

(119) An agreement such as the one concluded on 24 October 2001 therefore constitutes an "agreement" between associations of undertakings within the meaning of Article 81 of the Treaty(171).

(120) In addition, the discussions that took place at the meetings on 29 November and 5 December 2001 attest the existence of a similar agreement between the same parties that carried on from the earlier one. The form had changed from that of the agreement of 24 October, since no formal written document survives. But, as has been shown in the account of the facts, the discussions reflect a meeting of minds between the federations that had signed the initial agreement. This is quite explicit in the notes taken by the director of the FNB at the meetings of 29 November and 5 December 2001: the notes refer several times to the "agreement" between the parties (see in particular recitals 58, 60 and 69 of this Decision). Indeed the facts already set out reveal that the parties had agreed to keep the new agreement secret (see in particular recital 60); the documents in the case contain numerous references to the need for the parties "to put nothing in writing from now on" (ne plus rien écrire, see in particular recitals 59, 60, 68, 69 and 70), and to confine themselves to a "verbal agreement" (see in particular recitals 59, 60, 63 and 64). Without repeating these documents in full, it may be worth pointing out that the director of the FNB wrote in his handwritten notes that "by general agreement, we will no longer communicate in writing". The vice-president of the FNB said, "there is nothing in writing on this new 'agreement'. Just words (...) we will see what is the weight of words, after the impact of the written document".

(121) The FNICGV has argued that the farmers had threatened violence, and that the agreement was concluded under that threat, which in French law is a ground of nullity. But for a commitment to be considered an "agreement" within the meaning of Article 81 it is not necessary that it should constitute a valid and binding contract under national law(172). And the courts have consistently held that an undertaking or association of undertakings party to an agreement within the meaning of Article 81 of the Treaty cannot rely on the argument that it was compelled to take part by the other participants. It could instead have reported the pressure being brought to bear on it to the appropriate authorities, and lodged a complaint with the Commission under Article 3 of Regulation No 17(173).

(122) Moreover, if an agreement vitiated by a ground of nullity were to escape Article 81, as the FNICGV contends when it invokes the threat of violence, no agreement would ever be caught by Article 81(1) of the Treaty: the fact that an agreement restricts competition is itself a ground of nullity under Article 81(2) of the Treaty. But the fact that the agreement was concluded under compulsion may be taken into account when the victim's participation in the infringement has to be assessed for purposes of the setting of fines.

(123) Lastly, contrary to the parties' claims, the fact that the agreement itself made no provision for penalties to be imposed on parties who failed to comply with it does not prevent it from being an "agreement" within the meaning of Article 81(1) of the Treaty(174).

3.1.3. Restriction of competition

(124) Article 81(1)(a) of the Treaty cites by way of example of restriction of competition forms of conduct which "directly or indirectly fix purchase or selling prices". As further examples Article 81(1)(b) and (c) refer to forms of conduct which "limit or control production [or] markets" or "share markets or sources of supply".

(125) An agreement such as the one under consideration here, which was concluded between farmers' and slaughterers' representatives and is aimed at setting minimum prices for the purchase of culled cows in France, consequently constitutes a restriction of competition within the meaning of Article 81(1) of the Treaty.

(126) In addition, an agreement by which the parties promise not to import products originating in the other Member States, among other places, leads to a partitioning of the market which is incompatible with Article 81(1) of the Treaty. It is true that the section of the agreement of 24 October 2001 requiring the "suspension" of imports of beef in general was moderated by the Rungis protocol of 31 October 2001. But the "solidarity" which importers and exporters promised to display has to be understood in the context as a call, at the very least, to limit imports as far as possible, since total suspension of imports had proved impossible in practice. Furthermore, it is undisputed that local agreements were concluded in the last week of October and in November, that is to say after the conclusion of the Rungis protocol (see recitals 73 to 75 and 79 of this Decision). But those agreements, which continued and implemented the national agreement, contained a suspension of imports clause valid "pending further national negotiations" (see recitals 75 and 79). The facts also show that in November and December, likewise after the signature of the Rungis protocol, farmers carried out "inspections" of the origin of meat, and in some cases destroyed meat that was not of French origin (see recital 80). Several times in those two months local organisations informed the FNB of the results of inspections relating specifically to the origin of meat. For example, it may be recalled that a local union representative wrote to the FNB on 11 December 2001 regarding an "inspection" in the slaughterhouses of the region: "no anomaly found - scale applied - no imports" (same recital). The handwritten notes by the director of the FNB include the observation "continue on imports", but "don't say it, and certainly don't write it" (see recital 49, concerning a conversation on 20 November 2001). Regarding the meeting on 5 December, the same notes observe "we're to stop saying 'against imports', and go to restaurants and catering" (see recital 68).

(127) It is well established that for the purpose of applying Article 81(1) of the Treaty there is no need to take account of the actual effects of an agreement once it appears that its aim is to prevent, restrict or distort competition within the common market(175). The agreement at issue here did have the restriction of competition as its object, and there is consequently no need to examine its effects. With regard to the provisions in the agreement concerning prices, however, it may be pointed out that prices did indeed begin to rise as soon as the agreement of 24 October 2001 had been concluded (see recitals 14 and 81 of this Decision), and that several documents show that farmers' representatives felt that the price scale was having the desired effect, at least in part (see recitals 85, 86 and 88). With regard to the provisions in the agreements concerning imports, the facts show that goods were "inspected" to establish their origin, and that imported products were destroyed (see in particular recital 80). The figures produced by the FNICGV in response to the statement of objections show that the volume of imports from France's main commercial partners in the beef industry fell substantially in November and December 2001 by comparison with October 2001, before rising again in January 2002 (see recital 78). But the Commission is not in a position to say that this was the result of the infringement.

(128) The FNICGV has contended that the agreement concerned only a limited quantity of animals. This is not true of imports. That part of the agreement concerned all beef (see recital 38 of this Decision). It was not confined to cows, as opposed to other kinds of cattle, or to animals on the hoof for slaughter, as opposed to imported fresh or frozen meat. The agreement on prices did apply only to certain categories of cow intended for slaughter, but this does not mean that its scope was narrow.

(129) First, it is a particular feature of the French market that consumption is largely oriented towards the meat of cows(176). Second, it is clear from the price scale drawn up by the FNB in mid-October 2001 (see recital 31 of this Decision) that the scale was confined to culled cows "because of the importance of this category"(177). Moreover, it would seem contradictory to claim that the agreement was concluded mainly to send a message of hope to farmers, to put an end to the strong pressure being exerted by the farmers and the public authorities, and to avoid breakdowns of law and order, and at the same time to claim that the agreement related only to very small volumes.

(130) It is indisputable that the beef industry was undergoing a serious crisis at the time the agreement was concluded (see section 1.3 of this Decision), a crisis which affected all markets in the Community. The Commission recognised the situation, and precisely for that reason it took special measures (see section 1.4.2). But as the Court of Justice has recently had occasion to point out, "the existence of a crisis in the market cannot in itself preclude the anti-competitive nature of an agreement"(178). The existence of a crisis might have been relied upon in order to seek an exemption under Article 81(3) of the Treaty(179). None of the parties to the agreement submitted any such application. But even if this agreement had been notified, it most likely would not have qualified for exemption. It is well established that exemption can be granted only when the four tests of Article 81(3) of the Treaty are all satisfied(180). In this case it will be enough to point out that the first two tests are not satisfied. The agreement does not in any way contribute to improving the production or distribution of goods or to promoting technical or economic progress. Nor does it allow consumers a fair share of the resulting benefit.

3.1.4. Appreciable effect on trade between Member States

(131) The courts have consistently held that in order that an agreement between undertakings may affect trade between Member States it must be possible to foresee with a sufficient degree of probability on the basis of a set of objective factors of law or fact that it may have an influence, direct or indirect, actual or potential, on the pattern of trade between Member States, such as might prejudice the realisation of the aim of a single market in all the Member States(181).

(132) The first part of the agreement provided for nothing less than a suspension of imports. Although the terms of the agreement of 24 October 2001 were moderated by the Rungis protocol, the wording of the protocol and the facts of the case make it clear that control of imports of beef, including imports from other Member States, continued to be a vital component of the agreement (see recital 80 of this Decision). This is confirmed by the written protests of agricultural organisations in other Member States (see recital 44).

(133) On the minimum prices for culled cows, it should be pointed out first that an agreement, decision or concerted practice extending over the whole of the territory of a Member State has, by its very nature, the effect of reinforcing the partitioning of markets on a national basis, thereby holding up the economic interpenetration which the Treaty is designed to bring about(182). And on a market that is open to imports a minimum price agreement can function only if it is backed up by measures to control imports(183). Otherwise, in a sector such as that of beef in France, where the producer price is already far higher than those in the neighbouring countries, and notably in Germany, fixing an even higher minimum price would necessarily lead to an increase in cheaper imports. The facts set out in this Decision (see recital 95) show that the link between minimum price and control of imports was indeed made. In particular, in the price scale that it adopted even before the agreement of 24 October 2001, the FNB listed the trade union measures that would have to be taken to ensure the application of the scale: the first such measure listed was control of imports (same recital). The "inspections" carried out by farmers in October to December 2001 were concerned both with prices and with the place of origin of the meat.

(134) The volumes of trade between France and the other Member State are substantial (see recital 11). In fact the bulk of trade in beef is inside the Community. The potential effects of an agreement of the kind at issue here, whether direct - suspending or limiting imports - or indirect - keeping up prices - have to be regarded as appreciable.

3.2. Council Regulation No 26

(135) Regulation No 26 provides that Article 81 is to apply to all agreements, decisions and practices which relate to production of or trade in the products listed in Annex II to the Treaty, now Annex I, which include beef.

(136) By way of exception it provides that Article 81 is not to apply to restrictive practices of three kinds:

(a) those which "form an integral part of a national market organisation";

(b) those which "are necessary for attainment of the objectives set out in Article 33 of the Treaty";

(c) restrictive practices "of farmers, farmers' associations, or associations of such associations belonging to a single Member State which concern the production or sale of agricultural products (...) under which there is no obligation to charge identical prices, unless the Commission finds that competition is thereby excluded or that the objectives of Article 33 of the Treaty are jeopardized."

(137) As the parties have indeed accepted, the exceptions set out at (a) and (c) cannot apply here. The organisation of the market in beef is a common one, so that the exception at (a) is excluded. The exception at (c) is excluded twice over: the agreement involves parties other than farmers, namely the slaughterers' federations; and it does indeed impose an obligation to charge identical prices.

(138) The exception at (b) cannot apply either. In line with the Commission's practice in its decisions and with the case-law, Article 2 of Regulation No 26, being an exception to the general rule, must be interpreted strictly(184). The third recital to Regulation No 26 states that Article 81 of the Treaty is to apply to agricultural products in so far as its application "does not impede the functioning of national organisations of agricultural markets or jeopardize attainment of the objectives of the common agricultural policy".

(139) According to the court judgments the exemption in (b) applies only if the agreement facilitates the attainment of all the objectives of Article 33(1) of the Treaty(185), or, if those objectives should prove divergent, if the Commission is able to reconcile them so as to enable the derogating provision to apply(186).

(140) The agreement at issue here does not in any way help "to increase agricultural productivity". That objective, listed at Article 33(1)(a) of the Treaty, is quite outside the scope of the agreement.

(141) The agreement was intended to fix a minimum price, which would be higher than the market price, and it might therefore be thought that it would help "to ensure a fair standard of living for the agricultural community, in particular by increasing the individual earnings of persons engaged in agriculture". Article 33(1)(b) lists that objective, but links it to the achievement of the first objective, the improvement of productivity, as can be seen from the fact that it begins with the word "thus". The agreement at issue here clearly does not pursue the first objective.

(142) In addition, contrary to what has been argued by the FNSEA, the agreement cannot be considered necessary "to stabilise markets" (Article 33(1)(c) of the Treaty). The crisis in the beef sector was due primarily to a massive imbalance between supply and demand. Fixing a minimum purchase price does nothing to remedy such a situation. It does not affect the volume of supply, of which there was a large surplus; an increase in minimum prices might even cause demand to fall, thus widening the gap between supply and demand. The view that fixing a minimum price would not solve anything had indeed been put forward by the President of the FNCBV and the FNICGV representative at the meeting on 23 October 2001 (see recital 32 of this Decision). Numerous documents in the file show that everyone was aware that the only real way to end the crisis was to bring supply and demand into balance(187).

(143) The agreement is not necessary "to assure the availability of supplies" (Article 33(1)(d) of the Treaty). The market in beef is not suffering from any shortage of supply.

(144) Lastly, contrary to what the FNSEA has argued, the agreement is not likely "to ensure that supplies reach consumers at reasonable prices" (Article 33(1)(e) of the Treaty). Especially in the case of consumption via restaurant and catering services, which are a major user of cheaper, imported meat, the suspension of imports could only have the effect of increasing prices.

(145) Thus the agreement is not necessary in order to achieve at least four of the five objectives of the common agricultural policy. Even if the view were to be taken that it did indeed fall within the scope of the objective in Article 33(1)(b) of the Treaty, nevertheless, when that objective is weighed against the other four objectives listed in Article 33(1), which it would not help to achieve, it has to be concluded that the derogation in Regulation No 26 does not apply here.

(146) In addition, as has already been said, beef is the subject of a common organisation of the market. By definition such an organisation is established "in order to attain the objectives set out in Article 33" of the Treaty, as is expressly stated in Article 34. The same point is made in the recital 2 to Regulation (EC) No 1254/1999 (see recital 17 of this Decision).

(147) But there is no way in which it can be maintained that the agreement at issue is among the means indicated by the Regulation or the legislation implementing it(188).

(148) Lastly, even if it were to be supposed that the measures taken by the parties did contribute to the attainment of the objectives in Article 33(1) of the Treaty - which they did not - the word "necessary" in Article 2 of Regulation No 26 requires that the measures be proportionate, that is to say that no other less restrictive measures would allow the objectives pursued to be attained. The agreement at issue aimed to fix prices and suspend imports, both of which are restrictions of competition expressly named in Article 81(1) of the Treaty and which constitute manifest infringements for which penalties have frequently been imposed.

(149) It follows that the agreement cannot be regarded as "necessary" as required by the first sentence of Article 2(1) of Regulation No 26. Consequently, it is not excepted from the application of Article 81(1) of the Treaty.

3.3. Intervention by the French State

(150) It has to be considered whether, as some of the parties contend, the part that may have been played by the French authorities in the conclusion of the agreement of 24 October 2001 is such as to prevent the application of Article 81 to the conduct of the six federations.

(151) It appears from the facts that the French State, through its Minister for Agriculture, was indeed implicated in the conclusion of the agreement of 24 October 2001. He strongly encouraged the conclusion of an agreement whose content was necessarily going to be in violation of the competition rules. This was expressly stated by the Minister before the lower house of parliament when the agreement was under discussion (see recital 33 of this Decision), and in the press release that the Minister issued after the agreement was concluded (see recital 42). But the Minister himself acknowledged that he could not "oblige" or "force" the parties to conclude an agreement (see recital 33). The agreement continues to be an agreement between private parties.

(152) From the case-law it is clear that if anticompetitive conduct is required of undertakings by national legislation, or if the latter creates a legal framework which itself eliminates any possibility of competitive activity on their part, Article 81 does not apply. In such a situation, the restriction on competition is not attributable to the autonomous conduct of the undertakings(189).

(153) That is not the case here. However the French State may have been implicated in the discussions that led to the conclusion of the agreement of 24 October 2001, there was no question of a legal framework that left the undertakings no margin for autonomous conduct.

(154) In their replies to the statement of objections the parties did not contest this conclusion. The FNSEA and the FNICGV stressed that the Minister had been implicated, but they confirmed that while he may have been deeply involved his role was merely one of encouragement(190).

(155) In addition, it cannot be overlooked that the intervention on the part of the Minister was itself provoked by weeks of farmers' demonstrations, sometimes violent, in September and October 2001. In its observations in reply to the statement of objections, the FNSEA pointed out that "law and order was threatened" and that these demonstrations "were paralysing economic activity in the whole agri-food sector"(191); the FNSEA added that the Minister felt obliged to intervene "to try to put an end to the crisis and the disturbance of law and order"(192).

(156) Thus the conduct of the six French federations does not fall outside the scope of Article 81 of the Treaty.

3.4. Duration of the infringement

(157) The infringement which is the subject of this Decision originated with the agreement of 24 October 2001. The agreement of 24 October 2001 expired on 30 November 2001, but the agreement continued beyond that date. The Commission has evidence that the agreement concluded at countrywide level continued to have effect at least until 11 January 2002, the date of expiry of the last local agreement to apply the