Judgment of the General Court of 14 May 2014 — Donau Chemie v Commission

(Case T-406/09) 

(Competition — Agreements, decisions and concerted practices — Market for calcium carbide and magnesium for the steel of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 — 2006 Guidelines on the method of setting fines — Mitigating circumstances — Cooperation during the administrative procedure — Obligation to state reasons — Equal treatment — Proportionality — Ability to pay)

Language of the case: German

Parties

Applicant: Donau Chemie AG (Vienna, Austria) (represented by: S. Polster, W. Brugger and M. Brodey, lawyers)

Defendant: European Commission (represented by: initially, N. von Lingen and M. Kellerbauer, acting as Agents, and by T. Eilmansberger, Professor, and subsequently by N. von Lingen and M. Kellerbauer)

Re:

Application for annulment of Article 2 of Commission Decision C(2009) 5791 final of 22 July 2009 relating to a proceeding under Article 81 [EC] and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement (Case COMP/39.396 − Calcium carbide and magnesium-based reagents for the steel and gas industries), in so far as it relates to the applicant, and, in the alternative, for reduction of the amount of the fine imposed on it by that decision.Operative part of the judgmentThe Court:Sets the amount of the fine imposed on Donau Chemie AG under Article 2(c) of Commission Decision C(2009) 5791 final of 22 July 2009 relating to a proceeding under Article 81 [EC] and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement

(Case COMP/39.396 − Calcium ca

rbide and m

agnesium-based reagents for the steel and gas industries) at EUR 4.35 million;Dismisses the action as to the remainder;Orders Donau Chemie to bear 90% of its own costs and to pay 90% of the European Commission’s costs, and the Commission to bear 10% of its own costs and to pay 10% of the costs incurred by Donau Chemie.