Judgment of the Court (Grand Chamber) of 6 November 2012 (reference for a preliminary ruling from the Rechtbank van koophandel te Brussel - Belgium) - Europese Gemeenschap v Otis NV, General Technic-Otis Sàrl, Kone Belgium NV, Kone Luxembourg Sàrl, Schindler NV, Schindler Sàrl, ThyssenKrupp Liften Ascenseurs NV, ThyssenKrupp Ascenseurs Luxembourg Sàrl

(Case C-199/11) 

(Representation of the European Union before national courts - Articles 282 EC and 335 TFEU - Claim for damages in respect of loss caused to the European Union by a cartel - Article 47 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union - Right to fair hearing - Right of access to a tribunal - Equality of arms - Article 16 of Regulation No 1/2003)

Language of the case: Dutch

Referring court

Rechtbank van koophandel te Brussel

Parties to the main proceedings

Applicant: Europese Gemeenschap

Defendants: Otis NV, General Technic-Otis Sàrl, Kone Belgium NV, Kone Luxembourg Sàrl, Schindler NV, Schindler Sàrl, ThyssenKrupp Liften Ascenseurs NV, ThyssenKrupp Ascenseurs Luxembourg Sàrl

Re:

Reference for a preliminary ruling - Rechtbank van koophandel te Brussel - Interpretation of Article 282 EC (now Article 335 TFEU) - Representation of the European Union before national courts - Action for damages - Rules governing the bringing of such an action by the institutions

Operative part of the judgment

1.    European Union law must be interpreted as meaning that, in circumstances such as those at issue in the main proceedings, the European Commission is not precluded from representing the European Union before a national court hearing a civil action for damages in respect of loss caused to the European Union by an agreement or practice prohibited by Articles 81 EC and 101 TFEU which may have affected certain public contracts awarded by various institutions and bodies of the European Union, there being no need for the Commission to have authorisation for that purpose from those institutions and bodies.

2.    Article 47 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union does not preclude the European Commission from bringing an action before a national court, on behalf of the European Union, for damages in respect of loss sustained by the Union as a result of an agreement or practice which has been found by a decision of the Commission to infringe Article 81 EC or Article 101 TFEU.

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¹ - OJ C 219, 23.7.2011.