Order of the President of the General Court of 22 July 2021 –
CCPL and Others v Commission

(Case T‑130/21 R)

(Interim relief – Competition – Agreements, decisions and concerted practices – Retail food packaging market – Decision imposing fines – Financial guarantee – 2006 Guidelines on the method for setting fines – Ability to pay – Application for suspension of operation of a measure – No prima facie case)

1.      Interim relief – Suspension of operation of a measure – Interim measures – Conditions for granting – Prima facie case – Urgency – Serious and irreparable damage – Cumulative nature – Balancing of all the interests involved – Order of examination and method of verification – Discretion of the court hearing the application for interim relief

(Arts 256(1), 278 and 279 TFEU; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 156(4))

(see paras 18-21)

2.      Interim relief – Suspension of operation of a measure – Conditions for granting – Prima facie case – Prima facie examination of the pleas in law put forward in support of the main action – Action against a Commission decision imposing fines in competition matters – Plea alleging infringement of the obligation to state reasons – Plea prima facie lacking in foundation

(Arts 278, 279 and 296 TFEU; Council Regulation No 1/2003, Art. 23(2); Commission Notice 2006/C 210/02, Section 35)

(see paras 24, 25, 39, 46)

3.      Acts of the institutions – Statement of reasons – Obligation – Scope – Essential formality distinct from the merits of the decision

(Art. 296 TFEU)

(see paras 32-34, 44, 45)

Re:

Application under Articles 278 and 279 TFEU seeking suspension of the operation of Commission Decision C(2020) 8940 final of 17 December 2020 replacing the fines set by Commission Decision C(2015) 4336 final of 24 June 2015 relating to a proceeding under Article 101 TFEU and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement to the extent that it concerns CCPL – Consorzio Cooperative di Produzione e Lavoro SC, Coopbox Group SpA and Coopbox Eastern s.r.o. (Case AT.39563 – Retail food packaging), in so far as it requires the applicants to provide a financial guarantee or to make provisional payment of the fines imposed.

Operative part

1. The application for interim measures is dismissed.

2. The costs are reserved.