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Décisions

CFI, 4th chamber, November 16, 2011, No T-78/06

COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Judgment

PARTIES

Demandeur :

Armando Álvarez, SA,

Défendeur :

European Commission

CFI n° T-78/06

16 novembre 2011

Judgment of the General Court (Fourth Chamber) of 16 November 2011 – Álvarez v Commission

(Case T-78/06)

Competition – Agreements, decisions and concerted practices – Plastic industrial bags sector – Decision finding an infringement of Article 81 EC – Concept of undertaking – Imputability of the unlawful conduct – Presumption of innocence

1.                     Community law – Principles – Fundamental rights – Presumption of innocence and defence rights – Procedures in competition matters – Applicability (Art. 6(2) EU; Art. 81(1) EC; Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 48) (see paras 23-24)

2.                     Competition – Community rules – Infringements – Attribution – Parent company and subsidiaries – Economic unit – Criteria for assessment – Presumption of decisive influence exercised by the parent company over its wholly‑owned subsidiaries – No obligation on the Commission to demonstrate the involvement of the parent company in the infringing conduct – (Art. 81(1) EC) (see paras 25-30)

3.                     Competition – Community rules – Infringements – Attribution – Parent company and subsidiaries – Economic unit – Criteria for assessment – Presumption of dominant influence by the parent company over its wholly-owned or almost wholly-owned subsidiaries – Commission’s option to attribute to the parent company liability for the infringing conduct of its subsidiary (Art. 81(1) EC) (see para. 35)

Re:

 APPLICATION for annulment in part of Commission Decision C (2005) 4634 final of 30 November 2005 relating to a proceeding under Article 81 [EC] (Case COMP/F/38.354 – Industrial bags), concerning a cartel on the market for plastic industrial bags, and, in the alternative, for reduction of the fine imposed on the applicant.

Operative part

The Court:

1.

 

Dismisses the action;

2.

 

Orders Armando Álvarez, SA to pay the costs.