Joined Cases C-293/13 P and C-294/13 P: Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 24 June 2015 — Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. v European Commission, Internationale Fruchtimport Gesellschaft Weichert GmbH & Co. KG (C-293/13 P), European Commission v Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., Internationale Fruchtimport Gesellschaft Weichert GmbH & Co. KG (C-294/13 P) (Appeals — Competition — Agreements, decisions and concerted practices — European banana market — Coordination in the setting of quotation prices — Concept of ‘economic unit’ between two companies — Concept of ‘decisive influence’ — Whether the conduct of one company may be imputed to another — Distortion of evidence — Burden of proof — Principle of in dubio pro reo — Concept of ‘single and continuous infringement’ — Concept of ‘concerted practice’ — Concept of ‘infringement by object’ — Undertakings that are members of the same cartel — Communication of information to the Commission — Legal obligation — Scope — Protection against self-incrimination — Intervener at first instance — Cross-appeal — Admissibility)
Date: 2015-06-24
Institutions: Court of Justice
Subjects: EU competition policy, cartel, exchange of information, fine, fixing of prices, parent company, proof, reference price, subsidiary, tropical fruit








C_2015279EN.01000401.xml










24.8.2015   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 279/4






Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 24 June 2015 — Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. v European Commission, Internationale Fruchtimport Gesellschaft Weichert GmbH & Co. KG (C-293/13 P), European Commission v Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., Internationale Fruchtimport Gesellschaft Weichert GmbH & Co. KG (C-294/13 P)
(Joined Cases C-293/13 P and C-294/13 P) (1)

((Appeals - Competition - Agreements, decisions and concerted practices - European banana market - Coordination in the setting of quotation prices - Concept of ‘economic unit’ between two companies - Concept of ‘decisive influence’ - Whether the conduct of one company may be imputed to another - Distortion of evidence - Burden of proof - Principle of in dubio pro reo - Concept of ‘single and continuous infringement’ - Concept of ‘concerted practice’ - Concept of ‘infringement by object’ - Undertakings that are members of the same cartel - Communication of information to the Commission - Legal obligation - Scope - Protection against self-incrimination - Intervener at first instance - Cross-appeal - Admissibility))
(2015/C 279/04)
Language of the case: English

Parties


(Case C-293/13 P)


Appellant: Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. (represented by: B. Meyring, Rechtsanwalt, and L. Suhr, Advocate)

Other parties to the proceedings: European Commission (represented by: A. Biolan, M. Kellerbauer and P. Van Nuffel, Agents), Internationale Fruchtimport Gesellschaft Weichert GmbH & Co. KG (represented by: K. Smith, QC, C. Humpe and S. Kon, Solicitors)

(Case C-293/13 P)


Appellant: European Commission: (represented by: A. Biolan, M. Kellerbauer and P. Van Nuffel, Agents)

Other parties to the proceedings: Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. (represented by: B. Meyring, Rechtsanwalt and L. Suhr, Advocate), Internationale Fruchtimport Gesellschaft Weichert GmbH & Co. KG, (represented by: K. Smith, QC, C. Humpe and S. Kon, Solicitors)

Operative part of the judgment

The Court:






1.


Dismisses the appeal in Case C-293/13 P and the cross-appeals in Cases C-293/13 P and C-294/13 P;










2.


Sets aside point 1 of the operative part of the judgment in Fresh Del Monte Produce v Commission (T-587/08, EU:T:2013:129);










3.


Sets the amount of the fine imposed in Article 2(c) of Commission Decision C(2008) 5955 final of 15 October 2008 relating to a proceeding under Article 81 [EC] (Case COMP/39 188 — Bananas) at EUR 9 8 00  000;










4.


Orders Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. to pay the costs relating to (i) the main appeals in Cases C-293/13 P and C-294/13 P and (ii) its cross-appeal in Case C-294/13 P, with the exception of the costs incurred by Internationale Fruchtimport Gesellschaft Weichert GmbH & Co. KG, which is to bear its own costs relating to all those proceedings;










5.


Orders Internationale Fruchtimport Gesellschaft Weichert GmbH & Co. KG to pay the costs relating its cross-appeals in Cases C-293/13 P and C-294/13 P.






(1)  
            OJ C 252, 31.8.2013.