Judgment of the General Court of 5 June 2012 - Imperial Chemical Industries v European Commission
(Case T-214/06)
(Competition - Agreements, decisions and concerted practices - Methacrylates market - Decision finding an infringement of Article 81 EC and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement - Participation in a part of the cartel - Rights of the defence - Fines - Obligation to state the reasons on which the decision is based - Gravity of the infringement - Deterrent effect - Equal treatment - Proportionality - Principle of sound administration - Cooperation during the administrative procedure - Duration of procedure - Reasonable time)
Language of the case: English
Parties
Applicant: Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd, formerly Imperial Chemical Industries plc (London, United Kingdom) (represented: initially by D. Anderson QC, H. Rosenblatt, B. Lebrun, lawyers, W. Turner, S. Berwick and T. Soames, Solicitors, subsequently by R. Wesseling and C. Swaak and lastly by R. Wesseling, C. Swaak and F. ten Have, lawyers)
Defendant: European Commission (represented: initially by V. Bottka, I. Chatzigiannis and F. Amato, subsequently by V. Bottka, I. Chatzigiannis and F. Arbault and lastly by V. Bottka and J. Bourke, Agents)
Re:
Application for annulment of Article 2(c) of Commission Decision C(2006) 2098 final of 31 May 2006 relating to a proceeding pursuant to Article 81 EC and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement (Case COMP/F/38.645 - Methacrylates), or, in the alternative, a reduction of the fine imposed under that provision.
Operative part of the judgment:
The Court:
Dismisses the action;
Orders Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd to pay the costs.
____________1 - OJ C 237, 30.9.2006.