Order of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 27 November 2017 — Schwenk Zement v Commission

(Case T‑907/16)

(Action for annulment — Competition — Mergers — Market for grey cement in Croatia — Decision to initiate the detailed examination phase in accordance with Article 6(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 — Act not open to challenge — Preparatory act — Inadmissibility)

1.      Actions for annulment — Actionable measures — Meaning — Measures producing binding legal effects — Preparatory measures — Not included — Commission decision to initiate in-depth examination of a concentration operation

(Art. 263 TFEU; Council Regulation No 139/2004, Art. 6(1)(c))

(see paras 14-22, 25)

2.      Actions for annulment — Actionable measures — Measures producing binding legal effects — Assessment of those effects by reference to the substance of the measure — Commission decision declaring a notified concentration compatible with the internal market — Decision not in principle adversely affecting the applicant — Obligation of the General Court to examine the possible binding legal effects

(Art. 263 TFEU; Council Regulation No 139/2004, Art. 8(1))

(see paras 23, 24)

Re:

ACTION brought under Article 270 TFEU, seeking annulment of Commission Decision C(206) 6591 final of 10 October 2016, to initiate the detailed examination phase in accordance with Article 6(1)(c) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004, seeking to assess the compatibility with the internal market of the acquisition of control of Cemex Hungária Épitöanyagok Kft. and Cemex Hrvatska d.d. by HeidelbergCement AG and Schwenk Zement through Duna-Dráva Cement Kft.

Operative part

1. The action is dismissed as inadmissible.

2. Schwenk Zement KG is ordered to bear its own costs as well as those incurred by the European Commission.