Joined Cases C-231/11 P to C-233/11 P: Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 10 April 2014  — European Commission v Siemens AG Österreich, VA Tech Transmission & Distribution GmbH & Co. KEG, Siemens Transmission & Distribution Ltd, Siemens Transmission & Distribution SA, Nuova Magrini Galileo SpA (Appeals — Competition — Agreements, decisions and concerted practices — Market in gas insulated switchgear projects — Joint and several liability for payment of the fine — Concept of an ‘undertaking’  — Principle of personal liability and the principle that the penalty must be specific to the offender and the offence — Unlimited jurisdiction of the General Court — The ultra petita rule — Principles of proportionality and equal treatment)
Date: 2014-04-10
Institutions: Court of Justice
Subjects: control of restrictive practices, equal treatment, fine, gas, jurisdiction, liability, principle of proportionality








C_2014175EN.01000201.xml










10.6.2014   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 175/2





Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 10 April 2014 — European Commission v Siemens AG Österreich, VA Tech Transmission & Distribution GmbH & Co. KEG, Siemens Transmission & Distribution Ltd, Siemens Transmission & Distribution SA, Nuova Magrini Galileo SpA
(Joined Cases C-231/11 P to C-233/11 P) (1)

((Appeals - Competition - Agreements, decisions and concerted practices - Market in gas insulated switchgear projects - Joint and several liability for payment of the fine - Concept of an ‘undertaking’ - Principle of personal liability and the principle that the penalty must be specific to the offender and the offence - Unlimited jurisdiction of the General Court - The ultra petita rule - Principles of proportionality and equal treatment))
2014/C 175/02
Language of the case: German

Parties


Appellants: European Commission (represented by: A. Antoniadis, R. Sauer and N. von Lingen, acting as Agents) (C-231/11 P), Siemens Transmission & Distribution Ltd (C-232/11 P), Siemens Transmission & Distribution SA, Nuova Magrini Galileo SpA (C-233/11 P) (represented by: H. Wollmann and F. Urlesberger, Rechtsanwälte)

Other parties to the proceedings: Siemens AG Österreich, VA Tech Transmission & Distribution GmbH & Co. KEG, Siemens Transmission & Distribution Ltd, Siemens Transmission & Distribution SA, Nuova Magrini Galileo SpA (represented by: H. Wollmann and F. Urlesberger, Rechtsanwälte), European Commission (represented by: A. Antoniadis, R. Sauer and N. von Lingen, acting as Agents)

Re:

Appeals brought against the judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 3 March 2011 in Joined Cases T 122/07 to T 124/07 Siemens Österreich and Others v Commission, being an application, primarily, for the partial annulment of Commission Decision C(2006) 6762 final of 24 January 2007 relating to a proceeding under Article 81 EC and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement (Case COMP/F/38.899 — Gas insulated switchgear) and, in the alternative, for a reduction of the fine imposed on the appellants

Operative part of the judgment

The Court:






1)


Sets aside paragraph 2 of the operative part of the judgment of the General Court of the European Union of 3 March 2011 in Joined Cases T-122/07 to T-124/07 Siemens Österreich and Others v Commission, in so far as it annuls Article 2(j) and (k) of Commission Decision C(2006) 6762 final of 24 January 2007 relating to a proceeding under Article [81 EC] and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement (Case COMP/F/38.899 — Gas insulated switchgear);










2)


Sets aside the first indent of paragraph 3 of the operative part of the judgment in Joined Cases T-122/07 to T-124/07 Siemens Österreich and Others v Commission;











3)


Sets aside the second to fourth indents of paragraph 3 of the operative part of the judgment in Joined Cases T-122/07 to T-124/07 Siemens Österreich and Others v Commission, in so far as they fix by implication the share of the fines for the payment of which the applicants at first instance were held jointly and severally liable;










4)


Dismisses the appeals as to the remainder;










5)


Orders Siemens AG Österreich, VA Tech Transmission & Distribution GmbH & Co. KEG, Siemens Transmission & Distribution Ltd, Siemens Transmission & Distribution SA and Nuova Magrini Galileo SpA to pay the costs relating to the appeal in Case C-231/11 P;










6)


Orders Siemens Transmission & Distribution Ltd to pay the costs relating to the appeal in Case C-232/11 P;










7)


Orders the European Commission to pay the costs relating to the appeal in Case C-233/11 P;










8)


The costs relating to the proceedings at first instance remain allocated in accordance with paragraphs 5 to 7 of the operative part of the judgment of 3 March 2011 in Joined Cases T-122/07 to T-124/07 Siemens Österreich and Others v Commission.






(1)  OJ C 204, 9.7.2011.