British Cement v Commission (Competition) [2000] EUECJ T-54/95 (15 March 2000)

British Cement v Commission (Competition) [2000] EUECJ T-54/95 (15 March 2000)

The Court found that the Commission infringed procedural rights in several respects, including incomplete access to evidence and improper findings of participation for certain periods and parties. The Court annulled parts of Decision 94/815/EC where procedural violations or lack of evidence were established, reduced or annulled fines accordingly, and dismissed the remainder of the applications.

Citation
[2000] EUECJ T-54/95
Parties
Applicant: Cimenteries CBR; Applicant: Cembureau - Association Européenne du Ciment; Applicant: Fédération de l'Industrie Cimentière Belge; Applicant: Eerste Nederlandse Cementindustrie (ENCI); Applicant: Vereniging Nederlandse Cementindustrie (VNC); Applicant: Ciments Luxembourgeois; Applicant: Dyckerhoff; Applicant: Syndicat National de l'Industrie Cimentière (SFIC); Applicant: Vicat; Applicant: Groupe Origny; Applicant: Ciments Français; Applicant: Heidelberger Zement; Applicant: Lafarge Coppée; Applicant: Aalborg Portland; Applicant: Alsen; Applicant: Bundesverband der Deutschen Zementindustrie; Applicant: Unicem; Applicant: Fratelli Buzzi; Applicant: Compañia Valenciana de Cementos Portland; Applicant: The Rugby Group; Applicant: British Cement Association; Applicant: Asland; Applicant: Castle Cement; Applicant: Heracles General Cement Company; Applicant: Corporación Uniland; Applicant: Agrupación de Fabricantes de Cemento de España (Oficemen); Applicant: Irish Cement; Applicant: Cimpor - Cimentos de Portugal; Applicant: SECIL - Companhia Geral de Cal e Cimento; Applicant: Associação Técnica da Indústria de Cimento (ATIC); Applicant: Titan Cement Company; Applicant: Italcementi - Fabbriche Riunite Cemento; Applicant: Holderbank Financière Glarus; Applicant: Hornos Ibéricos Alba (Hisalba); Applicant: Aker RGI ASA; Applicant: Scancem (publ); Applicant: Cementir - Cementerie del Tirreno; Applicant: Blue Circle Industries; Applicant: Enosi Tsimentoviomichanion Ellados; Applicant: Tsimenta Chalkidos; Respondent: Commission
Jurisdiction
European Union
Judgment Date
15 March 2000
Procedural Posture
Joined Applications for Annulment and Reduction of Fines / Final Judgment
Outcome
Partial annulment of Commission Decision 94/815/EC, reduction or annulment of fines, dismissal of remainder of applications.
Legal Topics
Cartels, Antitrust, Procedural Rights, Fines, Market Definition, Exchange of Information, Concerted Practices
Competition Law European Union Law Cartels Antitrust Procedural Rights Fines Market Definition Exchange of Information +1 more

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Parties

Cimenteries CBR

Applicant

Cembureau - Association Européenne du Ciment

Applicant

Fédération de l'Industrie Cimentière Belge

Applicant

Eerste Nederlandse Cementindustrie (ENCI)

Applicant

Vereniging Nederlandse Cementindustrie (VNC)

Applicant

Ciments Luxembourgeois

Applicant

Dyckerhoff

Applicant

Syndicat National de l'Industrie Cimentière (SFIC)

Applicant

Vicat

Applicant

Groupe Origny

Applicant

Ciments Français

Applicant

Heidelberger Zement

Applicant

Lafarge Coppée

Applicant

Aalborg Portland

Applicant

Alsen

Applicant

Bundesverband der Deutschen Zementindustrie

Applicant

Unicem

Applicant

Fratelli Buzzi

Applicant

Compañia Valenciana de Cementos Portland

Applicant

The Rugby Group

Applicant

British Cement Association

Applicant

Asland

Applicant

Castle Cement

Applicant

Heracles General Cement Company

Applicant

Corporación Uniland

Applicant

Agrupación de Fabricantes de Cemento de España (Oficemen)

Applicant

Irish Cement

Applicant

Cimpor - Cimentos de Portugal

Applicant

SECIL - Companhia Geral de Cal e Cimento

Applicant

Associação Técnica da Indústria de Cimento (ATIC)

Applicant

Titan Cement Company

Applicant

Italcementi - Fabbriche Riunite Cemento

Applicant

Holderbank Financière Glarus

Applicant

Hornos Ibéricos Alba (Hisalba)

Applicant

Aker RGI ASA

Applicant

Scancem (publ)

Applicant

Cementir - Cementerie del Tirreno

Applicant

Blue Circle Industries

Applicant

Enosi Tsimentoviomichanion Ellados

Applicant

Tsimenta Chalkidos

Applicant

Commission

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Joined Applications for Annulment and Reduction of Fines / Final Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether Commission Decision 94/815/EC infringed procedural rights and substantive competition law
  2. 2 Whether the applicants participated in anti-competitive agreements and practices
  3. 3 Whether fines imposed were lawful and proportionate

Ratio Decidendi

The Court found that the Commission infringed procedural rights in several respects, including incomplete access to evidence and improper findings of participation for certain periods and parties. The Court annulled parts of Decision 94/815/EC where procedural violations or lack of evidence were established, reduced or annulled fines accordingly, and dismissed the remainder of the applications.

Court Disposition

Partial annulment of Commission Decision 94/815/EC, reduction or annulment of fines, dismissal of remainder of applications.

Orders

  • Joinder of cases for judgment
  • Annulment of specific articles of Decision 94/815/EC as regards certain applicants and periods