"Geitling" RuhrkohleC-Verkaufsgesellschaft mbH, "Mausegatt" Ruhrkohlen-Verkaufsgesellschaft mbH "Prasident" Ruhrkohlen-Verkaufsgesellschaft mbH and associated companies v High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community. (Suspension Of Operation Of A Decision Of Rejection ) [1959] EUECJ C-19/59R (12 May 1959)
The Court held that it lacks power to grant suspension of a decision refusing authorization, as such suspension would not equate to granting the authorization, which only the administration can do. Furthermore, applicants failed to establish that the inspection measures would cause irreparable harm, so suspension...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [1959] EUECJ C-19/59R
- Parties
- Applicant: Geitling Ruhrkohlen-Verkaufsgesellschaft mbH; Applicant: Mausegatt Ruhrkohlen-Verkaufsgesellschaft mbH; Applicant: Präsident Ruhrkohlen-Verkaufsgesellschaft mbH; Applicant: Mining companies of the Ruhr Basin grouped within the above-mentioned sales agencies; Respondent: High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community
- Jurisdiction
- European Union
- Procedural Posture
- Application for Interim Measures / Interlocutory (application for Suspension of Operation of Decision)
- Outcome
- application for suspension dismissed
- Legal Topics
- Suspension of Operation of Administrative Decision, Interim Measures, Refusal of Authorization, Powers of the Court Under ECSC Treaty
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Geitling Ruhrkohlen-Verkaufsgesellschaft mbH
Applicant
Mausegatt Ruhrkohlen-Verkaufsgesellschaft mbH
Applicant
Präsident Ruhrkohlen-Verkaufsgesellschaft mbH
Applicant
Mining companies of the Ruhr Basin grouped within the above-mentioned sales agencies
Applicant
High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Application for Interim Measures / Interlocutory (application for Suspension of Operation of Decision)
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the Court can suspend the operation of a decision refusing authorization under Article 65(2) ECSC Treaty
- 2 Whether applicants established irreparable harm justifying suspension of operation of inspection measures
Ratio Decidendi
The Court held that it lacks power to grant suspension of a decision refusing authorization, as such suspension would not equate to granting the authorization, which only the administration can do. Furthermore, applicants failed to establish that the inspection measures would cause irreparable harm, so suspension was not justified.
Court Disposition
application for suspension dismissed
Orders
- The application for the suspension of the operation of the provisions of Article 11 and of the second sentence of Article 14(2) of Decision No. 17/59 is dismissed.
- Costs are reserved.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
1 paragraphs
[ Home ] [ Databases ] [ World Law ] [ Multidatabase Search ] [ Help ] [ Feedback ] [ DONATE ] Court of Justice of the European Communities (including Court of First Instance Decisions) You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> Court of Justice of the European Communities (including Court of First Instance Decisions) >> "Geitling" RuhrkohleC-Verkaufsgesellschaft mbH, "Mausegatt" Ruhrkohlen-Verkaufsgesellschaft mbH "Prasident" Ruhrkohlen-Verkaufsgesellschaft mbH and associated companies v High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community. (Suspension Of Operation Of A Decision Of Rejection ) [1959] EUECJ C-19/59R (12 May 1959) URL: https://www.bailii.org/eu/cases/EUECJ/1959/C1959R.html Cite as: [1959] EUECJ C-19/59R [ New search ] [ Help ] IMPORTANT LEGAL NOTICE - The source of this judgment is the web site of the Court of Justice of the European Communities . The information in this database has been provided free of charge and is subject to a Court of Justice of the European Communities disclaimer and a copyright notice . This electronic version is not authentic and is subject to amendment. 61959O0019 Order of the Court of 12 May 1959. "Geitling" Ruhrkohlen-Verkaufsgesellschaft mbH, "Mausegatt" Ruhrkohlen-Verkaufsgesellschaft mbH "Präsident" Ruhrkohlen-Verkaufsgesellschaft mbH and associated companies v High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community. Case 19-59 R - Joined cases 16-59, 17-59 and 18-59. European Court reports French edition 1960 Page 00085 Dutch edition 1960 Page 00085 German edition 1960 Page 00087 Italian edition 1960 Page 00081 English special edition 1960 Page 00034 Danish special edition 1954-1964 Page 00165 Greek special edition 1954-1964 Page 00369 Portuguese special edition 1954-1961 Page 00319 ++++ 1 . SUSPENSION OF OPERATION OF A DECISION OF REJECTION - ADMISSIBILITY 2 . SUSPENSION OF OPERATION - CONDITION FOR THE GRANT THEREOF 1 . THE SUSPENSION OF THE OPERATION OF A DECISION CONSTITUTING A REFUSAL OF AUTHORIZATION IS NOT EQUIVALENT TO THE GRANT OF THE AUTHORIZATION REFUSED . THAT AUTHORIZATION MAY BE GRANTED ONLY BY THE ADMINISTRATION, OVER WHICH THE COURT HAS NO POWER OF DIRECTION . THE 'OTHER... INTERIM MEASURES' REFERRED TO IN THE LAST PARAGRAPH OF ARTICLE 39 OF THE ECSC TREATY CAN ONLY BE OF A CONSERVATORY NATURE AND DO NOT GIVE THE COURT THE POWER TO SUBSTITUTE ITSELF FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OR TO TAKE, EVEN PROVISIONALLY, ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS IN PLACE OF THE EXECUTIVE . 2 . THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR GRANTING A SUSPENSION OF OPERATION WHERE THE APPLICANTS FAIL TO ESTABLISH THAT THE MEASURES PRESCRIBED BY THE CONTESTED DECISION WOULD CAUSE THEM DAMAGE WHICH COULD NOT BE REDRESSED IF THE DECISION WERE ANNULLED AT THE HEARING OF THE MAIN ACTION . IN CASE 19/59 R 1 . GEITLING, SELLING AGENCY FOR RUHR COAL, A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INCORPORATED UNDER GERMAN LAW, HAVING ITS REGISTERED OFFICE IN ESSEN, 2 . MAUSEGATT, SELLING AGENCY FOR RUHR COAL, A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INCORPORATED UNDER GERMAN LAW, HAVING ITS REGISTERED OFFICE IN ESSEN, 3 . PRASIDENT, SELLING AGENCY FOR RUHR COAL, A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INCORPORATED UNDER GERMAN LAW, HAVING ITS REGISTERED OFFICE IN ESSEN, REPRESENTED BY THEIR MANAGERS, 4 . THE MINING COMPANIES OF THE RUHR BASIN, GROUPED WITHIN THE ABOVEMENTIONED SALES AGENCIES AND REPRESENTED BY THEM, APPLICANTS, ASSISTED BY WERNER VON SIMSON, ADVOCATE OF THE OBERLANDESGERICHT DUSSELDORF, WITH AN ADDRESS FOR SERVICE IN LUXEMBOURG-BERTRANGE AT THE CHAMBERS OF THE SAID ADVOCATE, V HIGH AUTHORITY OF THE EUROPEAN COAL AND STEEL COMMUNITY, WITH AN ADDRESS FOR SERVICE IN LUXEMBOURG AT ITS OFFICES, 2 PLACE DE METZ, DEFENDANT, REPRESENTED BY ITS LEGAL ADVISER, ERICH ZIMMERMANN, ACTING AS AGENT, ASSISTED BY PROFESSOR KONRAD DUDEN AND HEINZ ROWEDDER, ADVOCATES OF THE LANDESGERICHT MANNHEIM, APPLICATION FOR SUSPENSION OF THE OPERATION OF ARTICLE 11 AND OF THE SECOND SENTENCE OF ARTICLE 14 ( 2 ) OF DECISION N . 17/59 OF THE HIGH AUTHORITY OF 18 FEBRUARY 1959 ON THE EXTENSION OF THE AUTHORIZATIONS CONCERNING THE SALES ORGANIZATIONS OF THE RUHR BASIN, PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL N . 14 OF 17 MARCH 1959, P . 36 BY APPLICATION LODGED ON 25 MARCH 1959, THE APPLICANTS REQUESTED SUSPENSION OF THE OPERATION OF ARTICLE 11 AND OF THE SECOND SENTENCE OF ARTICLE 14 ( 2 ) OF DECISION N . 17/59 OF THE HIGH AUTHORITY OF 18 FEBRUARY 1959 . THAT APPLICATION, BASED ON ARTICLE 39 OF THE TREATY, WAS REFERRED TO THE COURT BY DECISION OF THE PRESIDENT, PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 33 OF THE PROTOCOL ON THE STATUTE AND TO ARTICLE 85 OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE COURT OF JUSTICE . ARTICLE 11 OF THE DECISION THE APPLICANTS REQUEST THE COURT TO SUSPEND THE OPERATION, NOT OF ALL THE PROVISIONS OF DECISION N . 17/59 WHICH RELATE TO THE SUPPLYING OF FIRST-HAND WHOLESALE COAL MERCHANTS, BUT ONLY OF ARTICLE 11 . THAT ARTICLE REJECTS THE FURTHER CLAIMS FORMULATED BY THE MINING UNDERTAKINGS CONCERNED WITH REGARD TO REGULATION OF TRADE . THUS, TO THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE AGREEMENTS ENTERED INTO BY THE COMPANIES PROVIDE FOR MORE RESTRICTIVE REGULATION OF TRADE THAN THAT WHICH IS THE SUBJECT OF ARTICLES 6 TO 10 OF THE DECISION, THE HIGH AUTHORITY REFUSES THE APPLICANTS THE AUTHORIZATION PROVIDED FOR IN ARTICLE 65 ( 2 ) OF THE TREATY . P . 37 ARTICLE 11 THEREFORE CONSTITUTES A REFUSAL OF AUTHORIZATION . SINCE THE SUSPENSION OF THE OPERATION OF A DECISION OF REJECTION IS NOT EQUIVALENT TO A GRANT OF THE AUTHORIZATION REFUSED BY THE HIGH AUTHORITY, IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES THE INTERIM APPLICATION IS IRRELEVANT . IN ANY EVENT THAT AUTHORIZATION MAY BE GRANTED ONLY BY THE ADMINISTRATION, OVER WHICH THE COURT HAS NO POWER OF DIRECTION . THE OTHER INTERIM MEASURES REFERRED TO IN THE LAST PARAGRAPH OF ARTICLE 39 CAN ONLY BE OF A CONSERVATORY NATURE AND DO NOT GIVE THE COURT THE POWER TO SUBSTITUTE ITSELF FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OR TAKE, EVEN PROVISIONALLY, ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS IN PLACE OF THE EXECUTIVE . AS REGARDS ARTICLE 11 THE APPLICATION FOR SUSPENSION OF OPERATION MUST THEREFORE BE REJECTED . SECOND SENTENCE OF ARTICLE 14 ( 2 ) OF THE DECISION SO FAR THE APPLICANTS HAVE NOT ESTABLISHED, TO THE EXTENT REQUIRED BY THE LAW, THAT THE INSPECTIONS PRESCRIBED BY THE CONTESTED PROVISION WOULD CAUSE THEM DAMAGE WHICH COULD NOT BE REDRESSED IF THAT PROVISION WERE ANNULLED AT THE HEARING OF THE MAIN ACTION . THERE IS THEREFORE NO JUSTIFICATION FOR THE GRANT OF A SUSPENSION OF OPERATION AT PRESENT . FURTHERMORE, ARTICLE 14 OF THE DECISION DOES NOT APPEAR TO DEROGATE FROM THE POWERS LAID DOWN IN ARTICLES 47, 65 ( 3 ) AND 86 OF THE TREATY; IT WILL ONLY BE POSSIBLE TO ESTABLISH THE EXTENT, AND HENCE THE LEGALITY, OF THE POWERS CONFERRED ON THE INSPECTORS IN THE LIGHT OF THE INSTRUCTIONS TO BE LAID DOWN BY THE HIGH AUTHORITY IN THAT CONNEXION . THE COURT BY WAY OF INTERIM DECISION, HEREBY ORDERS : THE APPLICATION FOR THE SUSPENSION OF THE OPERATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 11 AND OF THE SECOND SENTENCE OF ARTICLE 14 ( 2 ) OF DECISION N . 17/59 IS DISMISSED . THE COSTS ARE RESERVED . © European Communities, 2001 All rights reserved BAILII: Copyright Policy | Disclaimers | Privacy Policy | Feedback | Donate to BAILII URL: https://www.bailii.org/eu/cases/EUECJ/1959/C1959R.html