Grounds
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1 NV NEDERLANDSE COMBINATIE VOOR CHEMISCHE INDUSTRIE, AMSTERDAM, ( HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS " NEDCHEM " ) OF WHICH THE APPLICANT IS THE SUCCESSOR, TOGETHER WITH FIVE OTHER NETHERLANDS UNDERTAKINGS WHICH WERE SUBSEQUENTLY ALWAYS REPRESENTED BY IT, ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT IN 1958 WITH THE UNDERTAKINGS C . F . BOEHRINGER UND SOEHNE, MANNHEIM, AND VEREINIGTE CHININEFABRIKEN ZIMMER UND CO ., GMBH, MANNHEIM ( HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS " BOEHRINGER " ) AND BUCHLER AND CO ., BRUNSWICK, WHEREBY THOSE UNDERTAKINGS RETAINED THEIR RESPECTIVE DOMESTIC MARKETS AND PROVIDED FOR THE FIXING OF THE PRICES AND QUOTAS FOR THE EXPORT OF QUININE AND QUINIDINE TO OTHER COUNTRIES .
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1 . ATTENDU QUE , CONJOINTEMENT AVEC CINQ AUTRES ENTREPRISES NEERLANDAISES QUI FURENT PAR LA SUITE TOUJOURS REPRESENTEES PAR ELLE , LA N V NEDERLANDSE COMBINATIE VOOR CHEMISCHE INDUSTRIE , AMSTERDAM ( APPELEE CI-APRES " NEDCHEM " ) , AUX DROITS DE LAQUELLE A SUCCEDE LA REQUERANTE , A CONCLU , EN 1958 , AVEC LES ENTREPRISES C.F . BOEHRINGER ET SOEHNE , MANNHEIM , ET VEREINIGTE CHININFABRIKEN ZIMMER ET CO . , GMBH , MANNHEIM ( APPELEES CI-APRES " BOEHRINGER " ) ET BUCHLER ET CO . , BRAUNSCHWEIG , UN ACCORD PAR LEQUEL CES ENTREPRISES SE SONT RESERVE LEURS MARCHES NATIONAUX RESPECTIFS ET ONT PREVU LA FIXATION DE PRIX ET DE QUOTAS POUR L ' EXPORTATION DE QUININE ET DE QUINIDINE A DESTINATION DES AUTRES PAYS ; 2 . QUE BUCHLER S ' EST RETIRE DE CET ACCORD LE 28 FEVRIER 1959 ; 3 . QU ' EN JUILLET 1959 , A LA SUITE DE L ' INTERVENTION DU BUNDESKARTELLAMT , A QUI L ' ACCORD AVAIT ETE NOTIFIE , BOEHRINGER ET NEDCHEM ONT MODIFIE CET ACCORD DE FACON A EN EXCLURE LES LIVRAISONS A DESTINATION DES ETATS MEMBRES DE LA CEE . 4 . QU ' EN 1960 UNE NOUVELLE ENTENTE A ETE CONSTITUEE ENTRE NEDCHEM ET LES DEUX AUTRES ENTREPRISES PRECITEES ET ETENDUE PEU APRES A DES ENTREPRISES FRANCAISES ET ANGLAISES ; 5 . QUE CETTE ENTENTE A ETE FONDEE TOUT D ' ABORD SUR UNE CONVENTION CONCERNANT LE COMMERCE AVEC LES PAYS TIERS ( APPELEE CI-APRES " CONVENTION D ' EXPORTATION " ) ET PREVOYANT , ENTRE AUTRES , LA FIXATION CONCERTEE DES PRIX ET DES REMISES APPLICABLES AUX EXPORTATIONS DE QUININE ET DE QUINIDINE ET LA REPARTITION DE QUOTAS D ' EXPORTATION GARANTIE PAR UN SYSTEME DE COMPENSATION POUR LE CAS OU LES QUOTAS D ' EXPORTATION SERAIENT DEPASSES OU NE SERAIENT PAS ATTEINTS ;
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2 BUCHLER WITHDREW FROM THIS AGREEMENT OF 28 FEBRUARY 1959 .
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6 . QU ' EN OUTRE , UN " GENTLEMEN ' S AGREEMENT " ENTRE LES MEMES PARTIES A ETENDU LES DISPOSITIONS SUSVISEES A TOUTES LES VENTES EFFECTUEES A L ' INTERIEUR DU MARCHE COMMUN ; 7 . QUE CET ACTE A ETABLI EGALEMENT LE PRINCIPE DE LA PROTECTION DES MARCHES NATIONAUX EN FAVEUR DE CHACUN DES PRODUCTEURS ET A OBLIGE LES MEMBRES FRANCAIS DE L ' ENTENTE A NE PAS FABRIQUER DE LA QUINIDINE SYNTHETIQUE ; 8 . QUE LA COMMISSION , PAR DECISION DU 16 JUILLET 1969 ( JO N . L 192 , P . 5 ET S . ) , ESTIMANT QUE LES RESTRICTIONS A LA CONCURRENCE AINSI PREVUES ETAIENT SUSCEPTIBLES D ' AFFECTER LE COMMERCE ENTRE LES ETATS MEMBRES , A INFLIGE A LA REQUERANTE UNE AMENDE DE 210000 UNITES DE COMPTE ; 9 . QUE PAR REQUETE DEPOSEE AU GREFFE DE LA COUR LE 13 SEPTEMBRE 1969 , L ' ENTREPRISE CHEMIEFARMA NV A INTRODUIT UN RECOURS CONTRE CETTE DECISION ;
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3 IN JULY 1959, FOLLOWING THE INTERVENTION OF THE BUNDESKARTELLAMT TO WHICH THE AGREEMENT HAD BEEN NOTIFIED, BOEHRINGER AND NEDCHEM AMENDED THAT AGREEMENT IN SUCH A WAY AS TO EXCLUDE DELIVERIES TO THE MEMBER STATES OF THE EEC .
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A - QUANT AU MOYEN D ' INCOMPETENCE DE LA COMMISSION
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4 IN 1960 A NEW CARTEL WAS ESTABLISHED BETWEEN NEDCHEM AND THE TWO ABOVEMENTIONED UNDERTAKINGS AND SHORTLY AFTERWARDS IT WAS EXTENDED TO CERTAIN FRENCH AND BRITISH UNDERTAKINGS .
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10 . ATTENDU QUE LA REQUERANTE , TIRANT ARGUMENT DE CE QUE LA CONVENTION D ' EXPORTATION AVAIT ETE NOTIFIEE AUX AUTORITES NATIONALES COMPETENTES SANS SOULEVER D ' OBJECTIONS , INVITE LA COUR A EXAMINER DANS QUELLE MESURE LES ARTICLES 88 ET 89 DU TRAITE ET , LE CAS ECHEANT , LE REGLEMENT N . 17/62 DU CONSEIL REFUSENT COMPETENCE A LA COMMISSION POUR APPRECIER DES ENTENTES AINSI NOTIFIEES ;
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5 THIS CARTEL WAS BASED IN THE FIRST PLACE ON AN AGREEMENT RELATING TO TRADE WITH THIRD COUNTRIES ( HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS THE " EXPORT AGREEMENT " ) AND PROVIDING INTER ALIA FOR THE FIXING BY AGREEMENT OF PRICES AND REBATES RELATING TO EXPORTS OF QUININE AND QUINIDINE AND THE ALLOCATION OF EXPORT QUOTAS SUPPORTED BY A SYSTEM OF COMPENSATION DEPENDING ON WHETHER THE EXPORT QUOTAS WERE EXCEEDED OR NOT FULFILLED .
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11 . ATTENDU QU ' AUX TERMES DE L ' ARTICLE 9 , N . 3 , DU REGLEMENT N . 17 , " LES AUTORITES DES ETATS MEMBRES RESTENT COMPETENTES POUR APPLIQUER LES DISPOSITIONS DE L ' ARTICLE 85 , PARAGRAPHE 1 " , MAIS SEULEMENT " AUSSI LONGTEMPS QUE LA COMMISSION N ' A ENGAGE AUCUNE PROCEDURE EN APPLICATION DES ARTICLES 2 , 3 OU 6 " DU REGLEMENT ;
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6 FURTHERMORE, A GENTLEMEN' S AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SAME PARTIES EXTENDED THE ABOVEMENTIONED PROVISIONS TO ALL SALES WITHIN THE COMMON MARKET .
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12 . QUE LE CARACTERE PROVISOIRE AINSI CONFERE AUX INTERVENTIONS DES AUTORITES NATIONALES NE SAURAIT PORTER ATTEINTE AU PLEIN EXERCICE , PAR LA COMMISSION , DE SES POUVOIRS DANS LE CADRE DU MARCHE COMMUN ;
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7 THIS AGREEMENT ALSO ESTABLISHED THE PRINCIPLE OF THE PROTECTION OF DOMESTIC MARKETS IN FAVOUR OF EACH OF THE PRODUCERS AND BOUND THE FRENCH MEMBERS OF THE CARTEL TO REFRAIN FROM MANUFACTURING SYNTHETIC QUINIDINE .
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13 . QUE , EN TOUT ETAT DE CAUSE , LES GENTLEMEN ' S AGREEMENTS QUI REGLAIENT LE COMPORTEMENT DES MEMBRES DE L ' ENTENTE DONT S ' AGIT DANS LE MARCHE COMMUN N ' ONT PAS FAIT L ' OBJET DE LA NOTIFICATION SUSVISEE ;
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8 SINCE THE COMMISSION CONSIDERED THAT THE RESTRICTIONS ON COMPETITION THEREIN PROVIDED FOR WERE CAPABLE OF AFFECTING TRADE BETWEEN MEMBER STATES, IT IMPOSED ON THE APPLICANT A FINE OF 210,000 UNITS OF ACCOUNT BY A DECISION OF 16 JULY 1969 ( OJ L 192, P . 5 ET SEQ .).
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14 . QUE , DES LORS , LE GRIEF N ' EST PAS FONDE ;
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9 BY AN APPLICATION LODGED AT THE COURT REGISTRY ON 13 SEPTEMBER 1969 THE UNDERTAKING CHEMIEFARMA NV INITIATED PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THIS DECISION .
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15 . ATTENDU QUE LA REQUERANTE SOUTIENT QUE LA COMMISSION N ' AURAIT PAS ETABLI SA COMPETENCE FAUTE D ' AVOIR FOURNI L ' INDICATION NECESSAIRE POUR PROUVER L ' EXISTENCE DES CONDITIONS REQUISES POUR L ' APPLICATION DE L ' ARTICLE 85 ;
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A - THE SUBMISSION OF THE COMMISSION' S LACK OF POWERS
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16 . QUE CE GRIEF CONCERNE LA VIOLATION DES FORMES SUBSTANTIELLES ET NON LA COMPETENCE DE LA COMMISSION ;
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10 RELYING UPON THE FACT THAT THE EXPORT AGREEMENT HAD BEEN NOTIFIED TO THE COMPETENT NATIONAL AUTHORITIES WITHOUT OBJECTIONS BEING RAISED, THE APPLICANT REQUESTS THE COURT TO CONSIDER TO WHAT EXTENT ARTICLES 88 AND 89 OF THE TREATY AND, IF APPROPRIATE, REGULATION NO 17/62 OF THE COUNCIL DENY THE COMMISSION POWER TO APPRAISE AGREEMENTS SO NOTIFIED .
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B - QUANT AU MOYEN RELATIF A LA PRESCRIPTION
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11 UNDER ARTICLE 9 ( 3 ) OF REGULATION NO 17 " THE AUTHORITIES OF THE MEMBER STATES SHALL REMAIN COMPETENT TO APPLY ARTICLE 85 ( 1 ) ", BUT ONLY " AS LONG AS THE COMMISSION HAS NOT INITIATED ANY PROCEDURE UNDER ARTICLES 2, 3 OR 6 " OF THE REGULATION .
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17 . ATTENDU QUE LA REQUERANTE FAIT GRIEF A LA COMMISSION DE NE PAS AVOIR TENU COMPTE DE CE QUE L ' INFRACTION ALLEGUEE SERAIT COUVERTE PAR LA PRESCRIPTION , EU EGARD AU DELAI QUI S ' EST ECOULE ENTRE LA DATE DES FAITS ET L ' OUVERTURE DE LA PROCEDURE ADMINISTRATIVE PAR LA COMMISSION ;
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12 THE PROVISIONAL CHARACTER THUS CONFERRED ON STEPS TAKEN BY NATIONAL AUTHORITIES CANNOT CALL IN QUESTION THE COMMISSION' S EXERCISE TO THE FULL OF ITS POWERS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE COMMON MARKET .
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18 . ATTENDU QUE LES TEXTES REGISSANT LE POUVOIR DE LA COMMISSION D ' INFLIGER DES AMENDES EN CAS D ' INFRACTION AUX REGLES DE CONCURRENCE NE PREVOIENT AUCUNE PRESCRIPTION ; 19 . QUE , POUR REMPLIR SA FONCTION D ' ASSURER LA SECURITE JURIDIQUE , UN DELAI DE PRESCRIPTION DOIT ETRE FIXE A L ' AVANCE ;
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13 IN ANY EVENT THE GENTLEMEN' S AGREEMENTS WHICH GOVERNED THE ACTIONS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CARTEL IN QUESTION IN THE COMMON MARKET WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE ABOVE-MENTIONED NOTIFICATION .
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2 ) ; QUE LA FIXATION DE SA DUREE ET DES MODALITES D ' APPLICATION RELEVE DE LA COMPETENCE DU LEGISLATEUR COMMUNAUTAIRE ;
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14 CONSEQUENTLY THE SUBMISSION IS UNFOUNDED .
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21 . QUE , DES LORS , LE GRIEF N ' EST PAS FONDE ;
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15 THE APPLICANT MAINTAINS THAT THE COMMISSION HAS NOT ESTABLISHED ITS POWERS THROUGH ITS FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY EVIDENCE TO PROVE THE EXISTENCE OF THE CONDITIONS NECESSARY FOR THE APPLICATION OF ARTICLE 85 .
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C - QUANT AUX MOYENS DE PROCEDURE ET DE FORME
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16 THIS SUBMISSION RELATES TO THE INFRINGEMENT OF AN ESSENTIAL PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENT AND NOT TO THE POWERS OF THE COMMISSION .
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I - A SUR LES MOYENS CONCERNANT L ' EXPOSE DES GRIEFS
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B - THE SUBMISSION RELATING TO THE LIMITATION PERIOD
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22 . ATTENDU QUE LA REQUERANTE , FAIT VALOIR QUE LA COMMISSION AURAIT INDIQUE D ' UNE MANIERE INSUFFISANTE , DANS SON EXPOSE DES GRIEFS COMMUNIQUE LE 30 MAI 1968 , LES REPROCHES RETENUS CONTRE ELLE ET LES MOYENS DE PREUVE UTILISES ;
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17 THE APPLICANT COMPLAINS THAT THE COMMISSION DID NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE FACT THAT PROCEEDINGS IN RESPECT OF THE ALLEGED INFRINGEMENT ARE BARRED HAVING REGARD TO THE PERIOD WHICH ELAPSED BETWEEN THE DATE OF THE ACTS AND THE INITIATION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE BY THE COMMISSION .
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23 . QUE , PAR CETTE OMISSION , LA COMMISSION AURAIT ENTRAVE LE CONTROLE DE LA COUR SUR LA LEGALITE DE LA DECISION ATTAQUEE ;
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18 THE PROVISIONS GOVERNING THE COMMISSION' S POWER TO IMPOSE FINES FOR INFRINGEMENT OF THE RULES ON COMPETITION DO NOT LAY DOWN ANY PERIOD OF LIMITATION .
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24 . ATTENDU QUE L ' ARTICLE 19 , PARAGRAPHE 1 , DU REGLEMENT N . 17 OBLIGE LA COMMISSION A DONNER AUX INTERESSES , AVANT DE PRENDRE UNE DECISION EN MATIERE D ' AMENDES , L ' OCCASION DE FAIRE CONNAITRE LEUR POINT DE VUE AU SUJET DES GRIEFS QU ' ELLE A RETENUS A LEUR EGARD ;
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19 IN ORDER TO FULFIL THEIR FUNCTION OF ENSURING LEGAL CERTAINTY LIMITATION PERIODS MUST BE FIXED IN ADVANCE .
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25 . QUE L ' ARTICLE 4 DU REGLEMENT N . 99/63 DE LA COMMISSION PREVOIT QUE , DANS SES DECISIONS , LA COMMISSION NE RETIENT CONTRE LES ENTREPRISES ET ASSOCIATIONS D ' ENTREPRISES DESTINATAIRES QUE LES GRIEFS AU SUJET DESQUELS CES DERNIERES ONT EU L ' OCCASION DE FAIRE CONNAITRE LEUR POINT DE VUE ;
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20 THE FIXING OF THEIR DURATION AND THE DETAILED RULES FOR THEIR APPLICATIONS COME WITHIN THE POWERS OF THE COMMUNITY LEGISLATURE .
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26 . QUE L ' EXPOSE DES GRIEFS REPOND A CETTE EXIGENCE , DES LORS QU ' IL ENONCE , MEME SOMMAIREMENT , MAIS DE MANIERE CLAIRE , LES FAITS ESSENTIELS SUR LESQUELS SE BASE LA COMMISSION ;
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21 CONSEQUENTLY THE SUBMISSION IS UNFOUNDED .
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27 . QUE L ' OBLIGATION IMPOSEE A CELLE-CI PAR L ' ARTICLE 19 EST SATISFAITE DES LORS QU ' ELLE FOURNIT AU COURS DE LA PROCEDURE ADMINISTRATIVE LES ELEMENTS NECESSAIRES A LA DEFENSE ;
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C - SUBMISSIONS RELATING TO PROCEDURE AND FORM
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28 . ATTENDU QU ' EN L ' ESPECE LA COMMISSION A CLAIREMENT EXPOSE LES FAITS ESSENTIELS SUR LESQUELS ELLE FONDAIT LES GRIEFS ARTICULES , EN SE REFERANT EXPRESSEMENT A DES DECLARATIONS CONTENUES DANS LES PROCES-VERBAUX DE CERTAINES REUNIONS DES ENTREPRISES INTERESSEES ET A LA CORRESPONDANCE RELATIVE A LA PROTECTION DES MARCHES NATIONAUX ECHANGEE ENTRE CES ENTREPRISES EN OCTOBRE-NOVEMBRE 1963 ;
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I - SUBMISSIONS RELATING TO THE NOTICE OF COMPLAINTS
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29 . QUE , D ' AUTRE PART , EN SOUTENANT , SUR LA BASE DE SES VERIFICATIONS , QUE LES INTERESSES ONT CONTINUE A ECHANGER DES DONNEES RELATIVES A LEURS VENTES EN FONCTION DE LA COMPENSATION EVENTUELLE DES QUANTITES ET ONT MAINTENU JUSQU ' A LA FIN DE 1964 UNE POLITIQUE DE PRIX UNIFORMES , ELLE EN A DEDUIT LA CONTINUATION , APRES 1962 , DE L ' APPLICATION DU GENTLEMEN ' S AGREEMENT RELATIF A L ' ACITIVITE DE PRODUCTION ET DE VENTE DANS LE MARCHE COMMUN ;
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22 THE APPLICANT CLAIMS THAT IN THE NOTICE OF COMPLAINTS COMMUNICATED TO IT ON 30 MAY 1968 THE COMMISSION FAILED TO GIVE SUFFICIENT INFORMATION ON THE OBJECTIONS MADE AGAINST IT AND THE EVIDENCE ON WHICH THEY WERE BASED .
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30 . QUE , DES LORS , LES REPROCHES SOULEVES A L ' EGARD DE L ' EXPOSE DES GRIEFS NE SONT PAS FONDES
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23 BY THIS OMISSION THE COMMISSION IS SAID TO HAVE HAMPERED REVIEW BY THE COURT OF THE LEGALITY OF THE CONTESTED DECISION .
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II - SUR LE GRIEF RELATIF A LA CONSULTATION DU DOSSIER ADMINISTRATIF
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24 ARTICLE 19 ( 1 ) OF REGULATION NO 17 OBLIGES THE COMMISSION, BEFORE TAKING A DECISION IN CONNEXION WITH FINES, TO GIVE THE PERSONS CONCERNED THE OPPORTUNITY OF PUTTING FORWARD THEIR POINT OF VIEW WITH REGARD TO THE COMPLAINTS MADE AGAINST THEM .
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31 . ATTENDU QUE LA REQUERANTE SOUTIENT QUE LA COMMISSION AURAIT VIOLE LES DROITS DE LA DEFENSE EN LUI REFUSANT , AU COURS DE LA PROCEDURE ADMINISTRATIVE LA CONSULTATION DES DOCUMENTS ESSENTIELS SUR LESQUELS REPOSE LA DECISION ATTAQUEE ;
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25 ARTICLE 4 OF REGULATION NO 99/63 OF THE COMMISSION PROVIDES THAT THE COMMISSION SHALL IN ITS DECISIONS DEAL ONLY WITH THOSE OBJECTIONS RAISED AGAINST UNDERTAKINGS AND ASSOCIATIONS OF UNDERTAKINGS IN RESPECT OF WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY OF MAKING KNOWN THEIR VIEWS .
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32 . QUE LA DEFENDERESSE REPLIQUE QU ' ELLE AVAIT MIS LA REQUERANTE EN MESURE DE CONSULTER LES DOCUMENTS QUI REVETAIENT DE L ' IMPORTANCE POUR L ' APPRECIATION DES GRIEFS ;
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26 THE NOTICE OF COMPLAINTS FULFILS THIS REQUIREMENT SINCE IT SETS FORTH CLEARLY, ALBEIT SUCCINCTLY, THE ESSENTIAL FACTS ON WHICH THE COMMISSION RELIES .
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33 . ATTENDU QUE L ' EXPOSE DES GRIEFS REPROCHE A LA REQUERANTE D ' AVOIR SUIVI JUSQU ' EN 1966 , NOTAMMENT POUR SES VENTES EN ITALIE , BELGIQUE ET LUXEMBOURG , UNE POLITIQUE DE PRIX COMMUNS AVEC D ' AUTRES PRODUCTEURS DE QUININE ;
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27 THE REQUIREMENT IMPOSED ON THE COMMISSION BY ARTICLE 19 IS MET WHEN IN THE COURSE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE IT SUPPLIES THE DETAILS NECESSARY TO THE DEFENCE .
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34 . QUE , SELON CET EXPOSE , CE COMPORTEMENT CONCERTE RESULTERAIT NOTAMMENT DE L ' UNIFORMITE DES PRIX PRATIQUES PAR LES ENTREPRISES POUR LEURS VENTES DANS LESDITS PAYS ;
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28 IN THE PRESENT CASE THE COMMISSION HAS CLEARLY SET OUT THE ESSENTIAL FACTORS ON WHICH IT BASED THE COMPLAINTS LISTED, REFERRING EXPRESSLY TO STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN THE MINUTES OF CERTAIN MEETINGS OF THE UNDERTAKINGS CONCERNED AND TO CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO THE PROTECTION OF DOMESTIC MARKETS WHICH WAS EXCHANGED BETWEEN THOSE UNDERTAKINGS IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER 1963 .
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35 . QU ' A L ' APPUI DE CETTE AFFIRMATION , L ' EXPOSE DES GRIEFS ( PARAGRAPHE 11 , DERNIER ALINEA ) SE REFERE AUX RESULTATS DES VERIFICATIONS EFFECTUEES PAR DES AGENTS DE LA COMMISSION DANS CES PAYS ;
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29 FURTHERMORE, MAINTAINING ON THE BASIS OF ITS INVESTIGATIONS THAT THE UNDERTAKINGS CONCERNED HAD CONTINUED TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION ON THEIR SALES WITH A VIEW TO POSSIBLE QUANTITATIVE COMPENSATION AND THAT UP TO THE END OF 1964 THEY HAD MAINTAINED A POLICY OF UNIFORM PRICES, THE COMMISSION THEREBY DEDUCED THAT AFTER 1962 THEY HAD CONTINUED TO APPLY THE GENTLEMEN' S AGREEMENT ON PRODUCTION AND SALE IN THE COMMON MARKET .
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36 . QUE LA REQUERANTE , AU COURS DE LA PROCEDURE ADMINISTRATIVE , A DEMANDE A LA COMMISSION DE LUI DONNER CONNAISSANCE DE CES ELEMENTS :
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30 CONSEQUENTLY THE OBJECTIONS RAISED WITH REGARD TO THE NOTICE OF COMPLAINTS ARE UNFOUNDED .
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37 . QUE LA COMMISSION A OPPOSE UN REFUS A CETTE DEMANDE , EN INVOQUANT LA NECESSITE DE SAUVEGARDER LE SECRET D ' AFFAIRES DES AUTRES ENTREPRISES ;
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II - THE OBJECTION RELATING TO CONSULTATION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE FILE
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38 . ATTENDU CEPENDANT QUE LA COMMISSION A ELLE-MEME ALLEGUE QUE CES ENTREPRISES SE SERAIENT RECIPROQUEMENT ET REGULIEREMENT COMMUNIQUE LES DONNEES RELATIVES AUX QUANTITES VENDUES DANS LES ETATS EN QUESTION ;
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31 THE APPLICANT MAINTAINS THAT THE COMMISSION INFRINGED THE RIGHTS OF THE DEFENCE BY REFUSING IN THE COURSE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE TO ALLOW IT TO CONSULT ESSENTIAL DOCUMENTS ON WHICH THE CONTESTED DECISION WAS BASED .
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39 . QUE , D ' AILLEURS , EN CAS DE DOUTE , LA COMMISSION AURAIT PU DEMANDER L ' AVIS DES AUTRES ENTREPRISES INTERESSEES SUR LA COMMUNICATION DEMANDEE PAR LA REQUERANTE DES DOCUMENTS LES CONCERNANT ;
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32 THE DEFENDANT REPLIES THAT IT HAD ENABLED THE APPLICANT TO CONSULT THE DOCUMENTS WHICH WERE OF IMPORTANCE FOR THE APPRAISAL OF THE COMPLAINTS .
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40 . QU ' IL N ' APPARAIT PAS QUE LA COMMISSION AIT CETTE CONSULTATION ;
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33 THE NOTICE OF COMPLAINTS ALLEGES THAT THE APPLICANT TOGETHER WITH OTHER PRODUCERS OF QUININE HAD UNTIL 1966 ADOPTED A POLICY OF COMMON PRICES, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO SALES IN ITALY, BELGIUM AND LUXEMBOURG .
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41 . ATTENDU CEPENDANT QUE , TOUT AU LONG DE LA PROCEDURE ADMINISTRATIVE , LA REQUERANTE N ' A PAS CONTESTE AVOIR PRATIQUE UNE POLITIQUE CONCERTEE EN MATIERE DE PRIX JUSQU ' A FIN OCTOBRE 1964 ;
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34 ACCORDING TO THIS STATEMENT THIS CONCERTED CONDUCT IS CLEAR IN PARTICULAR FROM THE UNIFORMITY OF PRICES MAINTAINED BY THE UNDERTAKINGS FOR THEIR SALES IN THE SAID COUNTRIES .
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42 . QU ' AINSI LE DEFAUT DE COMMUNICATION DE PIECES NE PARAIT AVOIR ETE SUSCEPTIBLE D ' AFFECTER LES POSSIBILITES DE DEFENSE DE LA REQUERANTE , DANS LE CADRE DE LA PROCEDURE ADMINISTRATIVE , QU ' EN CE QUI CONCERNE LA PERIODE NOVEMBRE 1964 - JANVIER 1965 ;
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35 IN SUPPORT OF THIS STATEMENT THE NOTICE OF COMPLAINTS ( LAST SUBPARAGRAPH OF PARAGRAPH 11 ) REFERS TO THE OUTCOME OF INVESTIGATIONS CARRIED OUT BY THE COMMISSION' S STAFF IN THOSE COUNTRIES .
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43 . QUE , DES LORS , IL Y A LIEU DE JOINDRE CET ELEMENT AU FOND ;
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36 IN THE COURSE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE THE APPLICANT REQUESTED THE COMMISSION TO ACQUAINT IT WITH THE FACTS REFERRED TO .
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III - SUR LES GRIEFS RELATIFS A LA REDACTION DU PROCES-VERBAL DE L ' AUDITION
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37 THE COMMISSION REJECTED THIS REQUEST ON THE GROUND THAT IT MUST PROTECT THE BUSINESS SECRETS OF THE OTHER UNDERTAKINGS .
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44 . ATTENDU QUE LA REQUERANTE REPROCHE A LA COMMISSION DE NE PAS AVOIR OBSERVE L ' ARTICLE 9 , PARAGRAPHE 4 , DU REGLEMENT N . 99 , EN OMETTANT NOTAMMENT DE SOUMETTRE AUX INTERESSES , DANS UN DELAI RAISONNABLE , UN PROCES VERBAL COMPLET ET FIDELE DE L ' AUDITION , EN LUI FIXANT UN DELAI TROP COURT POUR PRESENTER SES OBSERVATIONS ET EN NE S ' ASSURANT PAS , AVANT D ' ADOPTER LA DECISION ATTAQUEE , DE SON ACCORD SUR LE PROJET DE PROCES-VERBAL ;
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38 NEVERTHELESS THE COMMISSION ITSELF ALLEGED THAT THOSE UNDERTAKINGS REGULARLY EXCHANGED INFORMATION ON THE AMOUNTS SOLD IN THE STATES IN QUESTION .
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45 . ATTENDU QUE , LORS DE LA PROCEDURE ADMINISTRATIVE , LA REQUERANTE , QUI DISPOSAIT D ' UN DELAI DE TROIS SEMAINES POUR FAIRE PARVENIR SES OBSERVATIONS SUR LE PROJET DE PROCES-VERBAL QUE LA COMMISSION LUI AVAIT SOUMIS , N ' A PAS FAIT USAGE DE SON DROIT DE PROPOSER DES AMENDEMENTS ET N ' A PAS NON PLUS DEMANDE UNE PROLONGATION DU DELAI ;
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39 FURTHERMORE IN CASE OF DOUBT THE COMMISSION COULD HAVE REQUESTED THE OPINION OF THE OTHER UNDERTAKINGS CONCERNED WITH REGARD TO THE APPLICANT' S REQUEST FOR THE COMMUNICATION OF THE DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THEM .
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46 . QU ' ELLE N ' EST DONC PAS FONDEE A REPROCHER MAINTENANT A LA COMMISSION DE LUI AVOIR FIXE UN DELAI TROP COURT ET DE NE PAS S ' ETRE ASSUREE , AVANT D ' ADOPTER LA DECISION ATTAQUEE , DE SON ACCORD SUR LE PROCES-VERBAL ;
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40 IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT THE COMMISSION CONSULTED THE SAID UNDERTAKINGS IN THIS WAY .
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47 . ATTENDU QUE LA REQUERANTE SOUTIENT EN OUTRE QUE LA COMMISSION , EN NE LUI SOUMETTANT PAS LE TEXTE EN LANGUE NEERLANDAISE , AURAIT VIOLE LES PRINCIPES INSCRITS AUX ARTICLES 217 ET 248 DU TRAITE CEE , CONJOINTEMENT AVEC LES DISPOSITIONS DU REGLEMENT N . 1 DU CONSEIL ;
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41 NEVERTHELESS, THROUGHOUT THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE THE APPLICANT DID NOT DISPUTE THAT IT HAD CARRIED OUT A CONCERTED POLICY WITH REGARD TO PRICES UNTIL THE END OF OCTOBER 1964 .
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48 . ATTENDU QU ' AUX TERMES DE L ' ARTICLE 3 DU REGLEMENT NO 1 DU CONSEIL , LES TEXTES ADRESSES PAR LES INSTITUTIONS A UNE PERSONNE RELEVANT DE LA JURIDICTION D ' UN ETAT MEMBRE SONT REDIGES DANS LA LANGUE DE CET ETAT ;
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42 CONSEQUENTLY THE FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE THE DOCUMENTS DOES NOT APPEAR CAPABLE OF AFFECTING THE APPLICANT' S OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEFENCE WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE, EXCEPT FOR THE PERIOD FROM NOVEMBER 1964 TO JANUARY 1965 .
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49 . QUE LE FAIT DE NE PAS AVOIR COMMUNIQUE UNE VERSION NEERLANDAISE DU PROJET DE PROCES-VERBAL CONSTITUE DONC UN VICE DANS L ' ETABLISSEMENT DE CE DOCUMENT QUI POURRAIT EN AFFECTER LA REGULARITE ;
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43 CONSEQUENTLY THIS MATTER MUST BE CONSIDERED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SUBSTANCE OF THE CASE .
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50 . QU ' IL RESSORT CEPENDANT DES ARGUMENTS PRODUITS PAR LA REQUERANTE QUE CELLE-CI A ETE EN ETAT DE PRENDRE UTILEMENT CONNAISSANCE DU CONTENU DU PROCES-VERBAL ; 51 . QUE LA REQUERANTE N ' A PAS ALLEQUE QUE , DE CE FAIT , LE PROCES-VERBAL COMPORTERAIT A SON EGARD DES INEXACTITUDES OU DES OMISSIONS SUBSTANTIELLES ;
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III - COMPLAINTS RELATING TO THE DRAWING UP OF THE MINUTES OF THE HEARING
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52 . QU ' IL Y A LIEU DE CONCLURE QUE L ' IRREGULARITE CONSTATEE N ' A PAS EU EN L ' ESPECE DE CONSEQUENCES PREJUDICIABLES POUVANT VICIER LA PROCEDURE ADMINISTRATIVE ;
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44 THE APPLICANT COMPLAINS THAT THE COMMISSION FAILED TO OBSERVE ARTICLE 9 ( 4 ) OF REGULATION NO 99 BY OMITTING TO SUBMIT TO THE UNDERTAKINGS CONCERNED WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME THE COMPLETE AND ACCURATE MINUTES OF THE HEARING, BY FIXING TOO SHORT A PERIOD OF TIME FOR IT TO SUBMIT ITS OBSERVATIONS AND BY FAILING TO ENSURE, PRIOR TO ADOPTING THE CONTESTED DECISION, THAT IT CONCURRED WITH THE DRAFT MINUTES .
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53 . QUE , DANS CES CONDITIONS , LES GRIEFS SUSVISES DOIVENT ETRE REJETES ;
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45 IN THE COURSE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE THE APPLICANT, WHICH HAD BEEN GIVEN A PERIOD OF THREE WEEKS WITHIN WHICH TO SUBMIT ITS OBSERVATIONS ON THE DRAFT MINUTES WHICH THE COMMISSION HAD SUBMITTED TO IT, NEITHER EXERCISED ITS RIGHT TO PROPOSE AMENDMENTS NOR REQUESTED AN EXTENSION OF THE PERIOD ALLOWED .
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IV - SUR LES GRIEFS RELATIFS A LA PARTICIPATION INSUFFISANTE DE LA REQUERANTE A LA PROCEDURE ADMINISTRATIVE
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46 THERE IS THUS NO FOUNDATION IN THE COMPLAINT NOW MADE AGAINST THE COMMISSION THAT IT CONCURRED WITH THE MINUTES BEFORE ADOPTING THE CONTESTED DECISION .
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54 . ATTENDU QUE LA REQUERANTE SE PLAINT DE CE QUE LA COMMISSION N ' AURAIT PAS RESPECTE UN PRINCIPE GENERAL DE DROIT LUI IMPOSANT D ' ADMETTRE LES INTERESSES A PARTICIPER ETROITEMENT A LA PROCEDURE ADMINISTRATIVE AFIN DE CORRIGER ENSEMBLE D ' EVENTUELLES IMPRECISIONS ET DE COMPLETER LES ARGUMENTS INSUFFISANTS ;
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47 THE APPLICANT FURTHER MAINTAINS THAT BY ITS FAILURE TO SUBMIT THE MINUTES TO IT IN DUTCH, THE COMMISSION INFRINGED THE PRINCIPLES CONTAINED IN ARTICLES 217 AND 248 OF THE EEC TREATY TOGETHER WITH THE PROVISIONS OF REGULATION NO 1 OF THE COUNCIL .
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55 . QUE CE DEFAUT DE COLLABORATION DE LA COMMISSION RESULTERAIT NOTAMMENT DE CE QUE LA DECISION ATTAQUEE AURAIT MAINTENU DES INEXACTITUDES PATENTES , POUR NE PAS AVOIR TENU COMPTE DES OBSERVATIONS FAITES PAR LA REQUERANTE DANS SA REPONSE A L ' EXPOSE DES GRIEFS ;
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48 UNDER THE TERMS OF ARTICLE 3 OF REGULATION NO 1 OF THE COUNCIL, DOCUMENTS WHICH AN INSTITUTION OF THE COMMUNITY SENDS TO A PERSON SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF A MEMBER STATE SHALL BE DRAFTED IN THE LANGUAGE OF SUCH STATE .
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56 . ATTENDU QUE LES DROITS DE LA DEFENSE SONT SATISFAITS DES LORS QUE CHACUNE DES PERSONNES CONCERNEES A EU LA POSSIBILITE DE PRESENTER SES OBSERVATIONS ECRITES ET ORALES SUR LES GRIEFS RETENUS PAR LA COMMISSION A SON EGARD ; 57 . QU ' IL N ' EST PAS CONTESTE QU ' AU COURS DE LA PROCEDURE PROCEDURE ADMINISTRATIVE LA REQUERANTE A EU CETTE POSSIBILITE ;
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49 THE FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE A DUTCH VERSION OF THE DRAFT MINUTES THUS CONSTITUTES AN IRREGULARITY IN DRAWING UP THAT DOCUMENT WHICH IS CAPABLE OF AFFECTING ITS VALIDITY .
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58 . QUE , DES LORS , CE GRIEF N ' EST PAS FONDE ;
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50 IT IS CLEAR, HOWEVER, FROM THE ARGUMENTS PUT FORWARD BY THE APPLICANT THAT IT WAS ABLE IN DUE TIME TO ACQUAINT ITSELF WITH THE CONTENTS OF THE MINUTES .
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V - SUR LES GRIEFS CONCERNANT LE FONDEMENT JURIDIQUE DU REGLEMENT N . 99 DE LA COMMISSION
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51 THE APPLICANT HAS NOT ALLEGED THAT THIS RESULTED IN THE MINUTES CONTAINING SUBSTANTIAL INACCURACIES OR OMISSIONS WITH REGARD TO IT .
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59 . ATTENDU QUE LA REQUERANTE SOUTIENT QUE LA DELEGATION A LA COMMISSION DU POUVOIR D ' ELABORER DES DISPOSITIONS RELATIVES A L ' AUDITION DES INTERESSES ET DES TIERS , FAIT PAR L ' ARTICLE 24 DU REGLEMENT N . 17 , CONCERNERAIT UNE ACTIVITE LEGISLATIVE ET SERAIT , DE CE FAIT , INCOMPATIBLE AVEC L ' ARTICLE 87 ET AVEC LES DISPOSITIONS COMBINEES DES ARTICLES 155 ET 4 DU TRAITE ;
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52 IT MUST THEREFORE BE CONCLUDED THAT THE IRREGULARITY WHICH HAS BEEN FOUND DID NOT IN THIS CASE HAVE HARMFUL CONSEQUENCES CAPABLE OF VITIATING THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE .
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60 . ATTENDU QUE L ' ARTICLE 87 ATTRIBUE AU CONSEIL LA MISSION D ' ARRETER " TOUS REGLEMENTS OU DIRECTIVES UTILES EN VUE DE L ' APPLICATION DES PRINCIPES FIGURANT AUX ARTICLES 85 ET 86 " ;
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53 IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES THE ABOVEMENTIONED COMPLAINTS MUST BE REJECTED .
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61 . QU ' ON NE SAURAIT EN DEDUIRE QU ' IL SERAIT INTERDIT AU CONSEIL DE CONFERER A LA COMMISSION LE POUVOIR DE PRENDRE LES MESURES REGLEMENTAIRES QUI SERAIENT NECESSAIRES POUR L ' EXECUTION DES REGLES QU ' IL AURAIT ADOPTEES DANS LE CADRE DE SA MISSION ;
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IV - COMPLAINTS THAT THE APPLICANT DID NOT TAKE SUFFICIENT PART IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE
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62 . QUE L ' ARTICLE 155 DU TRAITE , QUI PREVOIT L ' ATTRIBUTION A CET EFFET DE COMPETENCES A LA COMMISSION PAR LE CONSEIL , NE LIMITE PAS CETTE HABILITATION AUX COMPETENCES NON REGLEMENTAIRES ;
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54 THE APPLICANT COMPLAINS THAT THE COMMISSION HAS FAILED TO OBSERVE A GENERAL PRINCIPLE OF LAW REQUIRING IT TO ALLOW PERSONS CONCERNED TO PARTICIPATE CLOSELY IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE IN ORDER THAT THEY MAY TOGETHER CORRECT ANY INACCURACIES AND SUPPLEMENT INADEQUATE ARGUMENTS .
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63 . ATTENDU QU ' A L ' ARTICLE 19 DU REGLEMENT NO 17 , LE CONSEIL A PREVU LE DROIT DES ENTREPRISES , PARTIES A UNE DES PROCEDURES PREVUES PAR CE REGLEMENT , D ' ETRE ENTENDUES PAR LA COMMISSION ;
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55 IT IS ALLEGED THAT THE FAILURE OF THE COMMISSION TO CO-OPERATE IN THIS WAY ARISES IN PARTICULAR FROM THE FACT THAT THE CONTESTED DECISION RETAINED PATENT INACCURACIES SINCE ACCOUNT WAS NOT TAKEN OF THE OBSERVATIONS SUBMITTED BY THE APPLICANT IN ITS REPLY TO THE NOTICE OF COMPLAINTS .
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64 . QU ' A L ' ARTICLE 24 DU MEME REGLEMENT , LE CONSEIL A AUTORISE LA COMMISSION A ARRETER DES DISPOSITIONS D ' APPLICATION CONCERNANT CES AUDITIONS ;
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56 THE RIGHTS OF THE DEFENCE ARE RESPECTED WHEN EACH OF THE PERSONS CONCERNED HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT ITS WRITTEN AND ORAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE COMPLAINTS MADE AGAINST IT BY THE COMMISSION .
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65 . QUE LE PRINCIPE DE L ' AUDITION DES INTERESSES PAR LA COMMISSION AYANT ETE ADOPTE PAR LE CONSEIL , LES REGLES DEFINISSANT LA PROCEDURE A SUIVRE A CET EGARD POUR IMPORTANTES QU ' ELLES SOIENT , CONSTITUENT DES MESURES D ' EXECUTION AU SENS DE L ' ARTICLE 155 SUSVISE ;
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57 IT IS NOT DISPUTED THAT IN THE COURSE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE THE APPLICANT HAD SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY .
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66 . QUE , PARTANT , IL EST LOISIBLE AU CONSEIL DE CONFIER A L ' INSTITUTION COMPETENTE POUR APPLIQUER CETTE PROCEDURE LA MISSION D ' EN FIXER LES DETAILS ;
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58 CONSEQUENTLY THIS COMPLAINT IS UNFOUNDED .
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67 . QUE , DES LORS , L ' EXCEPTION D ' ILLEGALITE QUE LA REQUERANTE FAIT VALOIR A L ' EGARD DE L ' ARTICLE 24 DU REGLEMENT N . 17 N ' EST PAS FONDEE ;
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V - COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE LEGAL BASIS OF REGULATION NO 99 OF THE COMMISSION
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68 . ATTENDU QUE LA REQUERANTE SOUTIENT EN OUTRE QUE LE PROJET DU REGLEMENT N . 17 , QUI AVAIT ETE SOUMIS AU PARLEMENT , NE PREVOYAIT PAS L ' ATTRIBUTION DE COMPETENCE A LA COMMISSION , DE SORTE QU ' IL N ' AURAIT PU DONNER SON AVIS SUR CE POINT ;
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59 THE APPLICANT MAINTAINS THAT THE DELEGATION TO THE COMMISSION OF THE POWER TO DRAFT PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE HEARING OF THE PERSONS CONCERNED AND OF THIRD PARTIES, CONFERRED BY ARTICLE 24 OF REGULATION NO 17, CONCERNS A LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY AND IS THUS INCOMPATIBLE WITH ARTICLE 87 AND WITH THE COMBINED PROVISIONS OF ARTICLES 155 AND 4 OF THE TREATY .
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69 . ATTENDU QUE LE PROJET SUSVISE , DANS LA VERSION AYANT FAIT L ' OBJET D ' UN AVIS FAVORABLE DU PARLEMENT ( JO 1961 , P . 1416 ) CONTIENT A SON ARTICLE 20 UNE DISPOSITION SUBSTANTIELLEMENT IDENTIQUE A CELLE DE L ' ARTICLE 24 DU REGLEMENT N . 17 ;
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60 ARTICLE 87 CONFERS ON THE COUNCIL THE TASK OF ADOPTING " ANY APPROPRIATE REGULATIONS OR DIRECTIVES TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE PRINCIPLES SET OUT IN ARTICLES 85 AND 86 ".
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70 . QUE , DES LORS , CE GRIEF N ' EST PAS FONDE ;
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61 IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DEDUCE FROM THIS THAT THE COUNCIL IS PROHIBITED FROM CONFERRING ON THE COMMISSION THE POWER TO ADOPT THE REGULATIONS NECESSARY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RULES WHICH THE COUNCIL HAS ADOPTED WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF ITS TASKS .
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VI - SUR LE GRIEF CONCERNANT LA COMPOSITION DE L ' ORGANE ADMINISTRATIF
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62 ARTICLE 155 OF THE TREATY WHICH PROVIDES THAT THE COUNCIL SHALL CONFER POWERS ON THE COMMISSION FOR THIS PURPOSE DOES NOT RESTRICT THIS AUTHORITY TO POWERS OTHER THAN THOSE OF DRAWING UP REGULATIONS .
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71 . ATTENDU QUE LA REQUERANTE FAIT ETAT DE LA VIOLATION D ' UN PRINCIPE GENERAL IMPOSANT LA CONTINUITE DANS LA COMPOSITION DE L ' ORGANE ADMINISTRATIF SAISI D ' UNE PROCEDURE POUVANT ABOUTIR A UNE AMENDE ;
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63 IN ARTICLE 19 OF REGULATION NO 17 THE COUNCIL HAS PROVIDED THAT UNDERTAKINGS WHICH WERE PARTIES TO ONE OF THE PROCEDURES PROVIDED FOR BY THAT REGULATION SHALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF BEING HEARD BY THE COMMISSION .
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72 . ATTENDU QU ' IL N ' EXISTE AUCUN PRINCIPE GENERAL DE CETTE NATURE ET QUE PARTANT CE GRIEF N ' EST PAS FONDE ;
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64 IN ARTICLE 24 OF THE SAME REGULATION THE COUNCIL HAS CONFERRED ON THE COMMISSION POWER TO ADOPT IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS CONCERNING SUCH HEARINGS .
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VII - SUR LE MOYEN DE VIOLATION DES FORMES SUBSTANTIELLES PAR DEFAUT DE MOTIVATION
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65 SINCE THE PRINCIPLE THAT THE PERSONS CONCERNED SHALL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY OF BEING HEARD BY THE COMMISSION WAS ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL THE RULES LAYING DOWN THE PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED IN THIS CONNEXION, HOWEVER IMPORTANT THEY MAY BE, CONSTITUTE IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE ABOVE-MENTIONED ARTICLE 155 .
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73 . ATTENDU QUE , SOUS L ' ANGLE DE LA VIOLATION DES FORMES SUBSTANTIELLES , LA REQUERANTE FAIT VALOIR UNE SERIE DE GRIEFS CONCERNANT LA MOTIVATION DE LA DECISION ATTAQUEE ;
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66 CONSEQUENTLY IT WAS LAWFUL FOR THE COUNCIL TO ENTRUST THE INSTITUTION AUTHORIZED TO APPLY THIS PROCEDURE WITH THE TASK OF LAYING DOWN ITS DETAILS .
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74 . QU ' ELLE REPROCHE EN PREMIER LIEU A LA DECISION D ' AVOIR PASSE SOUS SILENCE DES PARTIES IMPORTANTES DE SON MEMOIRE EN REPONSE A L ' EXPOSE DES GRIEFS , QUI CONCERNAIENT NOTAMMENT LES CARACTERISTIQUES DU MARCHE DES PRODUITS PHARMACEUTIQUES ET LE DEFAUT D ' OBJET DE LA PROTECTION TERRITORIALE ;
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67 CONSEQUENTLY THE OBJECTION OF ILLEGALITY PUT FORWARD BY THE APPLICANT WITH REGARD TO ARTICLE 24 OF REGULATION NO 17 IS UNFOUNDED .
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75 . QUE CES OMISSIONS EMPECHERAIENT TOUT CONTROLE DE LA COMPETENCE DE LA COMMISSION POUR INTERVENIR EN VERTU DE L ' ARTICLE 85 DU TRAITE EN RAISON D ' UNE ENTRAVE POTENTIELLE AU COMMERCE ENTRE LES ETATS MEMBRES ;
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68 THE APPLICANT FURTHER MAINTAINS THAT THE DRAFT OF REGULATION NO 17 WHICH WAS SUBMITTED TO THE PARLIAMENT DID NOT PROVIDE FOR POWER TO BE CONFERRED ON THE COMMISSION SO THAT IT WAS UNABLE TO GIVE ITS OPINION ON THIS POINT .
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76 . ATTENDU QU ' EN VERTU DE L ' ARTICLE 190 DU TRAITE , LA COMMISSION EST TENUE DE MOTIVER SES DECISIONS EN MENTIONNANT LES ELEMENTS DE FAIT DONT DEPEND LA JUSTIFICATION LEGALE DE LA MESURE ET LES CONSIDERATIONS QUI L ' ONT AMENEE A PRENDRE SA DECISION ;
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69 IN ARTICLE 20 OF THE ABOVEMENTIONED DRAFT IN THE VERSION APPROVED BY PARLIAMENT ( OJ 1961, P . 1416 ) THERE IS A PROVISION SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL TO ARTICLE 24 OF REGULATION NO 17 .
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77 . QU ' IL N ' EST CEPENDANT PAS EXIGE QUE LA COMMISSION DISCUTE TOUS LES POINTS DE FAIT ET DE DROIT QUI AURAIENT ETE TRAITES PAR CHAQUE INTERESSE AU COURS DE LA PROCEDURE ADMINISTRATIVE ;
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70 CONSEQUENTLY THIS COMPLAINT IS UNFOUNDED .
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78 . QU ' EN CE QUI CONCERNE PLUS PARTICULIEREMENT LES DECISIONS INFLIGEANT UNE AMENDE , LA MOTIVATION DOIT ETRE JUGEE SUFFISANTE DES LORS QU ' ELLE FAIT APPARAITRE DE FACON CLAIRE ET COHERENTE LES CONSIDERATIONS DE FAIT ET DE DROIT SUR LESQUELLS S ' APPUIE LA CONDAMNATION DES INTERESSES , DE MANIERE A PERMETTRE TANT A CEUX-CI QU ' A LA COUR DE CONNAITRE LES ELEMENTS ESSENTIELS DU RAISONNEMENT DE LA COMMISSION ;
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VI - COMPLAINT RELATING TO THE COMPOSITION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE BODY
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79 . ATTENDU QU ' IL RESSORT DE LA DECISION QUE LA COMMISSION A ESTIME QUE LA SITUATION DU MARCHE DES PRODUITS PHARMACEUTIQUES N ' ETAIT PAS DECISIVE POUR LA CONSTATATION D ' UNE VIOLATION DES REGLES DE CONCURRENCE DU TRAITE ;
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71 THE APPLICANT MAINTAINS THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN INFRINGEMENT OF A GENERAL PRINCIPLE REQUIRING CONTINUITY IN THE COMPOSITION OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE BODY BEFORE WHICH PROCEEDINGS ARE BROUGHT WHICH MAY RESULT IN A FINE .
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80 . QUE , DES LORS , LA COMMISSION N ' A PAS COMMIS UNE VIOLATION DES FORMES SUBSTANTIELLES EN ECARTANT DES MOTIFS DE SA DECISION DES ELEMENTS QU ' ELLE ESTIMAIT , A TORT OU A RAISON , ETRANGERS A L ' AFFAIRE ;
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72 THERE IS NO GENERAL PRINCIPLE OF THIS NATURE AND CONSEQUENTLY THIS COMPLAINT IS UNFOUNDED .
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81 . QU ' EN CE QUI CONCERNE LA PROTECTION TERRITORIALE , LA DECISION EXPOSE DE FACON CLAIRE ET COHERENTE LES MOTIFS , DE FAIT ET DE DROIT , POUR LESQUELS LA COMMISSION A REPROCHE A LA REQUERANTE D ' AVOIR PROCEDE , AVEC D ' AUTRES ENTREPRISES , A UNE REPARTITION DES MARCHES A L ' INTERIEUR DE LA COMMUNAUTE ;
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VII - SUBMISSION OF THE INFRINGEMENT OF AN ESSENTIAL PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENT THROUGH FAILURE TO PROVIDE A STATEMENT OF REASONS
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82 . QUE LES GRIEFS SUSVISES NE SONT DONC PAS FONDES ;
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73 WITH REGARD TO THE INFRINGEMENT OF AN ESSENTIAL PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENT THE APPLICANT PUTS FORWARD A SERIES OF COMPLAINTS WITH REGARD TO THE REASONING OF THE CONTESTED DECISION .
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83 . ATTENDU QUE LA REQUERANTE SOUTIENT ENSUITE QUE CERTAINS DES CONSIDERANTS DE LA DECISION SERAIENT CONTRADICTOIRES ;
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74 IT COMPLAINS FIRST OF ALL THAT THE DECISION OMITTED TO REFER TO IMPORTANT PARTS OF ITS REPLY TO THE NOTICE OF COMPLAINTS, WHICH DEALT IN PARTICULAR WITH THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MARKET IN PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS AND THE POINTLESSNESS OF TERRITORIAL PROTECTION .
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84 . ATTENDU , TOUTEFOIS , QUE LA REQUERANTE S ' ETANT BORNEE A INDIQUER CES CONSIDERANTS , SANS EXPLICITER SON AFFIRMATION , ELLE NE SAURAIT INVOQUER UTILEMENT CE MOYEN ;
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75 THOSE OMISSIONS HAMPER ANY REVIEW OF THE COMMISSION' S POWERS TO INTERVENE UNDER ARTICLE 85 OF THE TREATY ON THE GROUND OF A POTENTIAL OBSTACLE TO TRADE BETWEEN MEMBER STATES .
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85 . ATTENDU QUE LA REQUERANTE REPROCHE EN OUTRE A LA DECISION ATTAQUEE DE CONTENIR DES AFFIRMATIONS NON MOTIVEES OU INSUFFISAMMENT MOTIVEES ;
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76 UNDER ARTICLE 190 OF THE TREATY THE COMMISSION IS REQUIRED TO STATE THE REASONS ON WHICH ITS DECISIONS ARE BASED, ENUMERATING THE FACTS FORMING THE LEGAL BASIS OF THE MEASURE AND THE CONSIDERATIONS WHICH LED IT TO ADOPT THE DECISION .
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86 . ATTENDU QU ' EN CE QUI CONCERNE LES PASSAGES CRITIQUES DE LA MOTIVATION RELATIFS AUX INCONVENIENTS CAUSES PAR L ' ENTENTE AUX ACHETEURS , IL S ' AGIT DE CONSIDERATIONS QUI N ' ONT PAS , DANS LE RAISONNEMENT DE LA COMMISSION , UNE VALEUR DETERMINANTE ;
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77 NEVERTHELESS THE COMMISSION IS NOT REQUIRED TO DISCUSS ALL THE ISSUES OF FACT AND OF LAW WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN TOUCHED ON BY EVERY INTERESTED PERSON IN THE COURSE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE .
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87 . ATTENDU QU ' EN CE QUI CONCERNE LE REPROCHE D ' INSUFFISANCE DE MOTIVATION RELATIF AUX AFFIRMATIONS CONTENUES AUX ALINEAS 2 ET 3 DU PARAGRAPHE 24 DE LA DECISION , CE GRIEF RELEVE DE LA PREUVE DES FAITS QUI SONT A LA BASE DE LA DECISION ET , PAR CONSEQUENT , DU FOND ;
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78 WITH REGARD MORE PARTICULARLY TO DECISIONS IMPOSING A FINE, THE STATEMENT OF REASONS IS TO BE CONSIDERED SUFFICIENT IF IT INDICATES CLEARLY AND COHERENTLY THE CONSIDERATIONS OF FACT AND OF LAW ON THE BASIS OF WHICH THE FINE HAS BEEN IMPOSED ON THE PARTIES CONCERNED, IN SUCH A WAY AS TO ACQUAINT BOTH THE LATTER AND THE COURT WITH THE ESSENTIAL FACTORS OF THE COMMISSION' S REASONING .
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88 . QU ' A CET EGARD LES PRECISIONS CONTENUES DANS LA DECISION DE LA COMMISSION SONT SUFFISANTES POUR LA COMPREHENSION DU RAISONNEMENT DE LA COMMISSION ET LE CONTROLE DE LA COUR ;
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79 IT IS CLEAR FROM THE DECISION THAT THE COMMISSION CONSIDERED THAT THE POSITION OF THE MARKET IN PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS WAS NOT DECISIVE IN FINDING AN INFRINGEMENT OF THE RULES OF THE TREATY ON COMPETITION .
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89 . QUE , DES LORS , CES GRIEFS NE SONT PAS FONDES ;
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80 CONSEQUENTLY THE COMMISSION HAS NOT INFRINGED AN ESSENTIAL PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENT BY OMITTING FROM THE REASONS FOR ITS DECISION FACTORS WHICH IT RIGHTLY OR WRONGLY CONSIDERED IRRELEVANT TO THE PROCEEDINGS .
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90 . ATTENDU QUE LA REQUERANTE FAIT EN OUTRE GRIEF A LA DEFENDERESSE D ' AVOIR VIOLE L ' ARTICLE 4 DU REGLEMENT N . 99 , DU FAIT QUE CERTAINS PASSAGES DE LA DECISION ATTAQUEE - CONCERNANT NOTAMMENT LA PORTEE JURIDIQUE DU GENTLEMEN ' S AGREEMENT , DE LA CONVENTION D ' EXPORTATION ET DE LA COMPENSATION DES QUANTITES - NE FIGURAIENT PAS DANS L ' EXPOSE DES GRIEFS OU S ' Y TROUVAIENT SOUS UNE AUTRE FORME ;
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81 WITH REGARD TO TERRITORIAL PROTECTION THE DECISION SETS FORTH CLEARLY AND COHERENTLY THE REASONS OF FACT AND OF LAW FOR WHICH THE COMMISSION ALLEGED THAT THE APPLICANT TOGETHER WITH OTHER UNDERTAKINGS HAD SHARED OUT THE MARKETS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY .
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91 . ATTENDU QUE LA DECISION NE DOIT PAS NECESSAIREMENT ETRE UNE COPIE DE L ' EXPOSE DES GRIEFS ;
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82 THE ABOVEMENTIONED COMPLAINTS ARE THUS UNFOUNDED .
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92 . QU ' EN EFFET , LA COMMISSION DOIT TENIR COMPTE DES ELEMENTS RESULTANT DE LA PROCEDURE ADMINISTRATIVE SOIT POUR ABANDONNER DES GRIEFS QUI SE SERAIENT REVELES MAL FONDES , SOIT POUR AMENAGER ET COMPLETER , TANT EN FAIT QU ' EN DROIT , SON ARGUMENTATION A L ' APPUI DES GRIEFS QU ' ELLE MAINTIENT ;
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83 THE APPLICANT THEN MAINTAINS THAT A NUMBER OF THE RECITALS IN THE PREAMBLE TO THE DECISION ARE CONTRADICTORY .
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93 . QUE CETTE DERNIERE POSSIBILITE N ' EST PAS EN CONTRADICTION AVEC LES DROITS DE LA DEFENSE SANCTIONNES PAR L ' ARTICLE 4 SUSVISE ;
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84 NEVERTHELESS, SINCE THE APPLICANT HAS MERELY NOTED THESE RECITALS WITHOUT GIVING DETAILS IN SUPPORT OF ITS STATEMENT, THIS SUBMISSION CANNOT BE RELIED UPON .
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94 . QUE CETTE DISPOSITION EST RESPECTEE DES LORS QUE LA DECISION NE MET PAS A LA CHARGE DES INTERESSES DES INFRACTIONS DIFFERENTES DE CELLES VISEES DANS L ' EXPOSE DES GRIEFS , ET NE RETIENT QUE DES FAITS SUR LESQUELS LES INTERESSES ONT EU L ' OCCASION DE S ' EXPLIQUER ;
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85 THE APPLICANT FURTHER COMPLAINS THAT THE CONTESTED DECISION CONTAINS STATEMENTS WITHOUT THE REASONS FOR THEM BEING STATED OR ADEQUATELY STATED .
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95 . QU ' AUCUN REPROCHE DE CETTE NATURE NE RESULTE DE LA COMPARAISON ENTRE L ' EXPOSE DES GRIEFS COMMUNIQUE A LA REQUERANTE LE 30 JUILLET 1968 ET LE TEXTE DE LA DECISION ATTAQUEE ;
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86 WITH REGARD TO THE PASSAGES WHICH HAVE BEEN CRITICIZED IN THE STATEMENT OF REASONS RELATING TO THE HARM CAUSED TO CONSUMERS BY THE AGREEMENT, THOSE CONSIDERATIONS ARE NOT BASIC TO THE COMMISSION' S REASONING .
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96 . QUE , DES LORS , CE GRIEF N ' EST PAS FONDE ;
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87 WITH REGARD TO THE ALLEGATION OF THE INADEQUACY OF THE STATEMENT OF REASONS RELATING TO THE STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN THE SECOND AND THIRD SUBPARAGRAPHS OF PARAGRAPH 24 OF THE DECISION, THIS COMPLAINT RELATES TO THE FACTUAL EVIDENCE FORMING THE BASIS FOR THE DECISION AND CONSEQUENTLY TO THE SUBSTANCE OF THE PROCEEDINGS .
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97 . ATTENDU QUE LA REQUERANTE FAIT ENFIN GRIEF A LA COMMISSION D ' AVOIR VIOLE UN PRINCIPE GENERAL DE DROIT SUIVANT LEQUEL L ' ATTENTION DES JUSTICIABLES DOIT ETRE ATTIREE SUR LES POSSIBILITES DE RECOURS ET SUR LES DELAIS IMPARTIS A CET EFFET ;
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88 IN THIS CONNEXION THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE COMMISSION' S DECISION IS SUFFICIENT TO ALLOW FOR ITS REASONING TO BE UNDERSTOOD AND FOR THE COURT TO REVIEW THE DECISION .
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98 . ATTENDU QUE LA REQUERANTE AYANT INTRODUIT SON RECOURS DANS LES DELAIS , LE PRESENT MOYEN EST SANS PORTEE ;
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89 CONSEQUENTLY THESE COMPLAINTS ARE UNFOUNDED .
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VIII - SUR LE GRIEF CONCERNANT LA PUBLICITE DONNEE A LA DECISION
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90 THE APPLICANT COMPLAINS IN ADDITION THAT THE DEFENDANT HAS INFRINGED ARTICLE 4 OF REGULATION NO 99 BECAUSE CERTAIN PROVISIONS IN THE CONTESTED DECISION - IN PARTICULAR RELATING TO THE LEGAL SCOPE OF THE GENTLEMEN' S AGREEMENT, OF THE EXPORT AGREEMENT AND OF THE QUANTITATIVE COMPENSATION FOR QUANTITIES - DO NOT APPEAR IN THE NOTICE OF COMPLAINTS OR DO SO IN ANOTHER FORM .
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99 . ATTENDU QUE LA REQUERANTE REPROCHE A LA COMMISSION D ' AVOIR VIOLE LES PRINCIPES QUI SERAIENT A LA BASE DE L ' ARTICLE 21 DU REGLEMENT N . 17 EN COMMUNIQUANT A LA PRESSE LA DECISION ATTAQUEE ET EN LA PUBLIANT INTEGRALEMENT AU JOURNAL OFFICIEL DES COMMUNAUTES , ALORS QU ' ELLE NE FIGURE PAS PARMI LES DECISIONS DONT CET ARTICLE PREVOIT LA PUBLICATION ;
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91 THE DECISION IS NOT NECESSARILY REQUIRED TO BE A REPLICA OF THE NOTICE OF COMPLAINTS .
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100 . QU ' AINSI LA DEFENDERESSE AURAIT INFLUENCE L ' OPINION PUBLIQUE AU DETRIMENT DE LA REPUTATION DE LA REQUERANTE ET DE SA POSITION EN BOURSE ;
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92 IN FACT THE COMMISSION MUST TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE FACTORS EMERGING FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE IN ORDER EITHER TO ABANDON SUCH COMPLAINTS AS HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO BE UNFOUNDED OR TO SUPPLEMENT AND REDRAFT ITS ARGUMENTS BOTH IN FACT AND IN LAW IN SUPPORT OF THE COMPLAINTS WHICH IT MAINTAINS .
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101 . ATTENDU QUE L ' ARTICLE 21 DU REGLEMENT NO 17 , PREVOYANT LA PUBLICATION DE CERTAINES DECISIONS NE COMPREND PAS CELLES PRISES EN APPLICATION DE L ' ARTICLE 15 DUDIT REGLEMENT ;
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93 THIS LATTER FACTOR DOES NOT CONTRADICT THE RIGHTS OF THE DEFENCE PROTECTED BY THE ABOVEMENTIONED ARTICLE 4 .
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102 . QUE SI LA COMMISSION N ' ETAIT PAS TENUE DE PUBLIER LA DECISION ATTAQUEE , RIEN NI DANS LE TEXTE NI DANS L ' ESPRIT DE L ' ARTICLE 21 SUSVISE NE L ' EMPECHAIT D ' EFFECTUER CETTE PUBLICATION , DES LORS QUE CELLE-CI NE CONSTITUAIT PAS UNE DIVULGATION DU SECRET D ' AFFAIRES DES ENTREPRISES ;
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94 THIS PROVISION IS OBSERVED IF THE DECISION DOES NOT ALLEGE THAT THE PERSONS CONCERNED HAVE COMMITTED INFRINGEMENTS OTHER THAN THOSE REFERRED TO IN THE NOTICE OF COMPLAINTS AND ONLY TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION FACTS ON WHICH THE PERSONS CONCERNED HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF MAKING KNOWN THEIR VIEWS .
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103 . QUE LA COMMUNICATION A LA PRESSE EFFECTUEE PAR LES SERVICES DE LA COMMISSION N ' ALTERAIT NI LE SENS NI LE CONTENU DE LA DECISION ;
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95 NO COMPLAINT OF THIS NATURE ARISES FROM A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE NOTICE OF COMPLAINTS ADDRESSED TO THE APPLICANT ON 30 JULY 1968 AND THE PROVISIONS OF THE CONTESTED DECISION .
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104 . QUE LA PUBLICITE AINSI DONNEE A LA DECISION PEUT MEME CONTRIBUER A ASSURER LE RESPECT DES REGLES DE CONCURRENCE DU TRAITE ;
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96 CONSEQUENTLY THIS COMPLAINT IS UNFOUNDED .
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105 . QUE LE PRESENT GRIEF N ' EST DONC PAS FONDE ;
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97 THE APPLICANT FINALLY COMPLAINS THAT THE COMMISSION VIOLATED A GENERAL PRINCIPLE OF LAW TO THE EFFECT THAT PERSONS CONCERNED MUST BE MADE AWARE OF THEIR RIGHTS OF ACTION AND OF THE TIME-LIMITS FIXED FOR THIS PURPOSE .
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D - QUANT AU FOND
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98 SINCE THE APPLICANT LODGED ITS APPLICATION WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED PERIOD, THIS SUBMISSION IS IRRELEVANT .
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I - SUR LA QUALIFICATION ET LA DUREE DU GENTLEMEN ' S AGREEMENT
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VIII - THE COMPLAINT RELATING TO THE PUBLICITY GIVEN TO THE DECISION
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106 . ATTENDU QUE LA REQUERANTE FAIT GRIEF A LA COMMISSION D ' AVOIR CONSIDERE COMME UN TOUT INDISSOLUBLE AU REGARD DE L ' ARTICLE 85 LA CONVENTION D ' EXPORTATION CONCERNANT LE COMMERCE AVEC LES PAYS TIERS ET LE GENTLEMEN ' S AGREEMENT REGISSANT LE COMPORTEMENT DE SES MEMBRES DANS LE MARCHE COMMUN ;
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99 THE APPLICANT COMPLAINS THAT THE COMMISSION VIOLATED THE PRINCIPLES ON WHICH ARTICLE 21 OF REGULATION NO 17 IS BASED BY COMMUNICATING THE CONTESTED DECISION TO THE PRESS AND PUBLISHING IT IN ITS ENTIRETY IN THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE COMMUNITIES ALTHOUGH IT DOES NOT APPEAR AMONGST THE DECISIONS PUBLICATION OF WHICH IS PRESCRIBED BY THAT ARTICLE .
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107 . QU ' A LA DIFFERENCE DE LA CONVENTION D ' EXPORTATION , LE GENTLEMEN ' S AGREEMENT N ' AURAIT PAS CONSTITUE UN ACCORD , AUX TERMES DE L ' ARTICLE 85 , PARAGRAPHE 1 , ET , DE TOUTE FACON , AURAIT CESSE D ' EXISTER DE MANIERE DEFINITIVE DES LA FIN OCTOBRE 1962 ;
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100 THE DEFENDANT IS THUS ALLEGED TO HAVE INFLUENCED PUBLIC OPINION TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE APPLICANT' S REPUTATION AND ITS STOCK MARKET POSITION .
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108 . QUE LE COMPORTEMENT DES PARTIES A LA CONVENTION D ' EXPORTATION NE PERMETTRAIT PAS DE CONCLURE QU ' ELLES AURAIENT CONTINUE A APPLIQUER LES RESTRICTIONS A LA CONCURRENCE PREVUES OBLIGATOIREMENT PAR LE GENTLEMEN ' S AGREEMENT ;
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101 ARTICLE 21 OF REGULATION NO 17 WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE PUBLICATION OF CERTAIN DECISIONS DOES NOT INCLUDE THOSE ADOPTED UNDER ARTICLE 15 OF THE SAID REGULATION .
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109 . QUE LES CONCLUSIONS CONTRAIRES AUXQUELLES PARVIENT LA DECISION ATTAQUEE SERAIENT VICIEES PARCE QUE BASEES SUR DES CONSTATATIONS INEXACTES ;
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102 ALTHOUGH THE COMMISSION WAS NOT OBLIGED TO PUBLISH THE CONTESTED DECISION, THERE IS NOTHING IN THE LETTER OR THE SPIRIT OF THE ABOVEMENTIONED ARTICLE 21 TO PREVENT IT FROM PUBLISHING IT SINCE THIS DID NOT AMOUNT TO DIVULGING THE UNDERTAKINGS' BUSINESS SECRETS .
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110 . ATTENDU QUE LE GENTLEMEN ' S AGREEMENT , DONT L ' EXISTENCE JUSQU ' A FIN OCTOBRE 1962 EST RECONNUE PAR LA REQUERANTE , AVAIT POUR OBJET DE RESTREINDRE LA CONCURRENCE DANS LE MARCHE COMMUN ;
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103 THE COMMISSION' S COMMUNICATION TO THE PRESS ALTERED NEITHER THE MEANING NOR THE CONTENT OF THE DECISION .
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111 . QUE LES PARTIES A LA CONVENTION D ' EXPORTATION S ' ETAIENT MUTUELLEMENT DECLAREES DISPOSEES A SE CONFORMER AU GENTLEMEN ' S AGREEMENT ET ADMETTENT S ' Y ETRE CONFORMEES JUSQU ' A LA FIN D ' OCTOBRE 1962 ;
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104 THE PUBLICITY THUS GIVEN TO THE DECISION MAY EVEN CONTRIBUTE TO ENSURING THE OBSERVANCE OF THE RULES OF THE TREATY ON COMPETITION .
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112 . QUE CE DOCUMENT CONSTITUAIT AINSI LA FIDELE EXPRESSION DE LA VOLONTE COMMUNE DES MEMBRES DE L ' ENTENTE SUR LEUR COMPORTEMENT DANS LE MARCHE COMMUN ;
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105 THE PRESENT COMPLAINT IS THUS UNFOUNDED .
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113 . QU ' EN OUTRE , IL CONTENAIT UNE CLAUSE SELON LAQUELLE LA VIOLATION DU GENTLEMEN ' S AGREEMENT CONSTITUERAIT IPSO FACTO UNE VIOLATION DE LA CONVENTION D ' EXPORTATION ;
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D - SUBSTANCE
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114 . QUE , DANS CES CONDITIONS , IL CONVIENT DE TENIR COMPTE DE CE LIEN POUR QUALIFIER LE GENTLEMEN ' S AGREEMENT A L ' EGARD DES CATEGORIES D ' ACTES INTERDITS PAR L ' ARTICLE 85 , PARAGRAPHE 1 ;
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I - THE STATUS AND DURATION OF THE GENTLEMEN' S AGREEMENT
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115 . ATTENDU QUE LA DEFENDERESSE FONDE SON OPINION RELATIVE A LA CONTINUATION , JUSQU ' EN FEVRIER 1965 , DU GENTLEMEN ' S AGREEMENT , SUR DES DOCUMENTS ET DES DECLARATIONS EMANANT DES PARTIES A L ' ENTENTE , DONT LA TENEUR PEU CLAIRE ET MEME CONTRADICTOIRE NE PERMET PAS DE DECIDER SI CES ENTREPRISES AVAIENT ENTENDU METTRE FIN AU GENTLEMEN ' S AGREEMENT LORS DE LEUR REUNION DU 29 OCTOBRE 1962 ;
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106 THE APPLICANT COMPLAINS THAT THE COMMISSION CONSIDERED THAT THE EXPORT AGREEMENT RELATING TO TRADE WITH THIRD COUNTRIES AND THE GENTLEMEN' S AGREEMENT GOVERNING THE CONDUCT OF ITS MEMBERS IN THE COMMON MARKET CONSTITUTED AN INDIVISIBLE ENTITY AS FAR AS ARTICLE 85 WAS CONCERNED .
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116 . QU ' IL Y A DONC LIEU D ' EXAMINER LE COMPORTEMENT DES ENTREPRISES DANS LE MARCHE COMMUN APRES LE 29 OCTOBRE 1962 SUR LES QUATRE POINTS RELATIFS A LA REPARTITION DES MARCHES NATIONAUX , A LA FIXATION DE PRIX COMMUNS , A LA DETERMINATION DE QUOTAS DE VENTE ET A L ' INTERDICTION DE FABRIQUER LA QUINIDINE SYNTHETIQUE ;
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107 THE APPLICANT STATES THAT THE GENTLEMEN' S AGREEMENT, UNLIKE THE EXPORT AGREEMENT, DID NOT CONSTITUTE AN AGREEMENT WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 85 ( 1 ) AND IN ANY EVENT IT DEFINITIVELY CEASED TO EXIST FROM THE END OF OCTOBER 1962 .
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II - SUR LA PROTECTION DES MARCHES NATIONAUX DES PRODUCTEURS
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108 THE CONDUCT OF THE PARTIES TO THE EXPORT AGREEMENT DOES NOT IN THE APPLICANT' S VIEW INDICATE THAT THEY CONTINUED THE RESTRICTIONS ON COMPETITION WHICH WERE ORIGINALLY PROVIDED FOR IN THE GENTLEMEN' S AGREEMENT .
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117 . ATTENDU QUE LE GENTLEMEN ' S AGREEMENT ASSURAIT LA PROTECTION DE CHAQUE MARCHE NATIONAL EN FAVEUR DES PRODUCTEURS DES DIFFERENTS ETATS MEMBRES ;
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109 THE OPPOSITE CONCLUSIONS REACHED BY THE CONTESTED DECISION ARE THEREFORE ALLEGED TO BE VITIATED BECAUSE THEY ARE BASED ON INCORRECT FINDINGS .
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118 . QU ' APRES OCTOBRE 1962 , LORSQUE DES LIVRAISONS D ' UNE CERTAINE IMPORTANCE ONT EU LIEU SUR UN DE CES MARCHES DE LA PART DE PRODUCTEURS NON NATIONAUX , COMME CE FUT LE CAS DES VENTES DE QUININE ET DE QUINIDINE EN FRANCE , CEUX-CI SE SONT SUBSTANTIELLEMENT ALIGNES SUR LES PRIX INTERIEURS FRANCAIS , PLUS ELEVES QUE LE PRIX A L ' EXPORTATION VERS LES PAYS TIERS ;
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110 THE GENTLEMEN' S AGREEMENT, WHICH THE APPLICANT ADMITS EXISTED UNTIL THE END OF OCTOBER 1962, HAD AS ITS OBJECT THE RESTRICTION OF COMPETITION WITHIN THE COMMON MARKET .
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119 . QU ' IL NE PARAIT PAS QU ' IL Y AIT EU DES MODIFICATIONS DANS LE VOLUME INSIGNIFIANT DES ECHANGES ENTRE LES AUTRES ETATS MEMBRES VISES PAR LA CLAUSE DE PROTECTION NATIONALE , MALGRE LES DIFFERENCES IMPORTANTES DES PRIX PRATIQUES DANS CHACUN DE CES ETATS ;
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111 THE PARTIES TO THE EXPORT AGREEMENT MUTUALLY DECLARED THEMSELVES WILLING TO ABIDE BY THE GENTLEMEN' S AGREEMENT AND CONCEDE THAT THEY DID SO UNTIL THE END OF OCTOBER 1962 .
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120 . QUE LES DIVERGENCES ENTRE LES LEGISLATIONS INTERNES DE CES ETATS NE SUFFISENT PAS A EXPLIQUER CES DIFFERENCES DE PRIX NI L ' ABSENCE SUBSTANTIELLE D ' ECHANGES ;
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112 THIS DOCUMENT THUS AMOUNTED TO THE FAITHFUL EXPRESSION OF THE JOINT INTENTION OF THE PARTIES TO THE AGREEMENT WITH REGARD TO THEIR CONDUCT IN THE COMMON MARKET .
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121 . QUE LES ENTRAVES POUVANT RESULTER DES DIFFERENCES ENTRE LES LEGISLATIONS NATIONALES REGISSANT LES PRODUITS PHARMACEUTIQUES DE MARQUE AUX ECHANGES DE QUININE ET DE QUINIDINE NE SAURAIENT ETRE UTILEMENT INVOQUEES POUR EXPLIQUER CES FAITS ;
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113 FURTHERMORE IT CONTAINED A PROVISION TO THE EFFECT THAT INFRINGEMENT OF THE GENTLEMEN' S AGREEMENT WOULD IPSO FACTO CONSTITUTE AN INFRINGEMENT OF THE EXPORT AGREEMENT .
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122 . QUE L ' ECHANGE DE CORRESPONDANCE EFFECTUEE EN OCTOBRE-NOVEMBRE 1963 ENTRE LES PARTIES A LA CONVENTION D ' EXPORTATION AU SUJET DE LA PROTECTION DES MARCHES NATIONAUX N ' A FAIT QUE CONFIRMER LA VOLONTE DE CES ENTREPRISES DE LAISSER INCHANGE CET ETAT DE CHOSES ;
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114 IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES ACCOUNT MUST BE TAKEN OF THIS CONNEXION IN ASSESSING THE EFFECTS OF THE GENTLEMEN' S AGREEMENT WITH REGARD TO THE CATEGORIES OF ACTS PROHIBITED BY ARTICLE 85 ( 1 ).
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123 . QUE CETTE VOLONTE A RECU UNE CONFIRMATION ULTERIEURE DE NEDCHEM LORS DE LA REUNION DES ENTREPRISES INTERESSEES A BRUXELLES LE 14 MARS 1964 ;
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115 THE DEFENDANT BASES ITS VIEW THAT THE GENTLEMEN' S AGREEMENT WAS CONTINUED UNTIL FEBRUARY 1965 ON DOCUMENTS AND DECLARATIONS EMANATING FROM THE PARTIES TO THE AGREEMENT THE TENOR OF WHICH IS INDISTINCT AND INDEED CONTRADICTORY SO THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CONCLUDE WHETHER THOSE UNDERTAKINGS INTENDED TO TERMINATE THE GENTLEMEN' S AGREEMENT AT THEIR MEETING ON 29 OCTOBER 1962 .
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124 . QU ' IL RESULTE DE CES CIRCONSTANCES , QU ' EN CE QUI CONCERNE LA RESTRICTION DE LA CONCURRENCE DECOULANT DE LA PROTECTION DES MARCHES NATIONAUX DES PRODUCTEURS , CEUX-CI ONT CONTINUE , APRES LA REUNION DU 29 OCTOBRE 1962 , A SE CONFORMER AU GENTLEMEN ' S AGREEMENT DE 1960 ET ONT CONFIRME LEUR VOLONTE COMMUNE A CET EFFET ;
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116 THE CONDUCT OF THE UNDERTAKINGS IN THE COMMON MARKET AFTER 29 OCTOBER 1962 MUST THEREFORE BE CONSIDERED IN RELATION TO THE FOLLOWING FOUR POINTS : SHARING OUT OF DOMESTIC MARKETS, FIXING OF COMMON PRICES, DETERMINATION OF SALES QUOTAS AND PROHIBITION AGAINST MANUFACTURING SYNTHETIC QUINIDINE .
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125 . ATTENDU QUE LA REQUERANTE SOUTIENT QU ' EN RAISON NOTAMMENT DE LA PENURIE DE MATIERES PREMIERES LA REPARTITION DES MARCHES NATIONAUX , TELLE QU ' ELLE RESULTE DE L ' ECHANGE DE LETTRES D ' OCTOBRE-NOVEMBRE 1963 , ETAIT DEPOURVUE DE TOUTE PORTEE SUR LA CONCURRENCE DANS LE MARCHE COMMUN ;
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II - PROTECTION OF THE PRODUCERS' DOMESTIC MARKETS
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126 . ATTENDU QUE , MALGRE LA RAREFACTION DES MATIERES PREMIERES ET UNE AUGMENTATION DE LA DEMANDE DES PRODUITS EN CAUSE , COMME LA DECISION ATTAQUEE LE CONSTATE , UNE MENACE SERIEUSE DE PENURIE NE S ' EST CEPENDANT MANIFESTEE QU ' EN 1964 , A LA SUITE DE L ' INTERRUPTION DES LIVRAISONS DE NEDCHEM PROVENANT DE L ' ADMINISTRATION AMERICAINE ;
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117 THE GENTLEMEN' S AGREEMENT GUARANTEED PROTECTION OF EACH DOMESTIC MARKET FOR THE PRODUCERS IN THE VARIOUS MEMBER STATES .
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127 . QUE , D ' AUTRE PART , UNE TELLE SITUATION N ' EST PAS DE NATURE A RENDRE LICITE UNE ENTENTE AYANT POUR OBJET DE RESTREINDRE LA CONCURRENCE DANS LE MARCHE COMMUN ET AFFECTANT LES ECHANGES ENTRE LES ETATS ;
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118 AFTER OCTOBER 1962 WHEN SIGNIFICANT SUPPLIES WERE DELIVERED ON ONE OF THOSE MARKETS BY PRODUCERS WHO WERE NOT NATIONALS, AS FOR EXAMPLE IN THE CASE OF SALES OF QUININE AND QUINIDINE IN FRANCE, THERE WAS A SUBSTANTIAL ALIGNMENT OF PRICES CONFORMING TO FRENCH DOMESTIC PRICES WHICH WERE HIGHER THAN THE EXPORT PRICES TO THIRD COUNTRIES .
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128 . QUE LA REPARTITION DES MARCHES NATIONAUX A POUR OBJET DE RESTREINDRE LA CONCURRENCE ET LES ECHANGES EFFECTUES DANS LE MARCHE COMMUN ;
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119 IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT THERE WERE ALTERATIONS IN THE INSIGNIFICANT VOLUME OF TRADE BETWEEN THE OTHER MEMBER STATES REFERRED TO BY THE CLAUSE RELATING TO DOMESTIC PROTECTION IN SPITE OF CONSIDERABLE DIFFERENCES IN THE PRICES PREVAILING IN EACH OF THOSE STATES .
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129 . QUE LE FAIT QUE CETTE ENTENTE AIT PU AVOIR EN PRATIQUE , LORSQUE LA MENACE DE PENURIE DES MATIERES PREMIERES S ' EST MANIFESTEE , UNE PORTEE MOINDRE SUR LA CONCURRENCE ET SUR LE COMMERCE INTERNATIONAL QUE DANS UNE PERIODE NORMALE , NE SAURAIT RIEN CHANGER AU FAIT QUE LES PARTIES N ' ONT PAS CESSE LEURS AGISSEMENTS ;
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120 THE DIVERGENCES BETWEEN THE DOMESTIC LEGISLATION OF THOSE STATES CANNOT BY ITSELF EXPLAIN THOSE DIFFERENCES IN PRICE OR THE SUBSTANTIAL ABSENCE OF TRADE .
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130 . QUE , D ' AILLEURS , LA REQUERANTE N ' A FOURNI AUCUN ELEMENT DETERMINANT SUSCEPTIBLE D ' ETABLIR QU ' ELLE AURAIT CESSE DE SE COMPORTER CONFORMEMENT A L ' ENTENTE AVANT LA DATE D ' EXPIRATION DE L ' ACCORD D ' EXPORTATION ;
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121 OBSTACLES WHICH MIGHT ARISE IN THE TRADE IN QUININE AND QUINIDINE FROM DIFFERENCES BETWEEN NATIONAL LEGISLATION GOVERNING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS UNDER TRADEMARK CANNOT RELEVANTLY BE INVOKED TO EXPLAIN THOSE FACTS .
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131 . QUE , DES LORS , LES MOYENS CONCERNANT LA PARTIE DE LA DECISION RELATIVE A LA CONTINUATION DE L ' ACCORD SUR LA PROTECTION DES MARCHES NATIONAUX DES PRODUCTEURS JUSQU ' AU DEBUT DE FEVRIER 1965 NE SONT PAS FONDES ;
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122 THE CORRESPONDENCE EXCHANGED IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER 1963 BETWEEN THE PARTIES TO THE EXPORT AGREEMENT WITH REGARD TO THE PROTECTION OF DOMESTIC MARKETS MERELY CONFIRMED THE INTENTION OF THOSE UNDERTAKINGS TO ALLOW THIS STATE OF AFFAIRS TO REMAIN UNCHANGED .
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III - SUR LA FIXATION EN COMMUN DES PRIX DE VENTE
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123 THIS INTENTION WAS SUBSEQUENTLY CONFIRMED BY NEDCHEM DURING THE MEETING OF THE UNDERTAKINGS CONCERNED IN BRUSSELS ON 14 MARCH 1964 .
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132 . ATTENDU QU ' EN CE QUI CONCERNE LA FIXATION EN COMMUN DES PRIX DE VENTE POUR LES MARCHES NON REPARTIS , A SAVOIR L ' UNION BELGO-LUXEMBOURGEOISE ET L ' ITALIE , LE GENTLEMEN ' S AGREEMENT PREVOYAIT L ' APPLICATION A CES VENTES DU BAREME DES PRIX COURANTS A L ' EXPORTATION DANS LES PAYS TIERS FIXE DE COMMUN ACCORD , CONFORMEMENT A LA CONVENTION D ' EXPORTATION ;
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124 FROM THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES IT IS CLEAR THAT WITH REGARD TO THE RESTRICTION ON COMPETITION ARISING FROM THE PROTECTION OF THE PRODUCERS' DOMESTIC MARKETS THE PRODUCERS CONTINUED AFTER THE MEETING ON 29 OCTOBER 1962 TO ABIDE BY THE GENTLEMEN' S AGREEMENT OF 1960 AND CONFIRMED THEIR COMMON INTENTION TO DO SO .
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133 . QUE LA FIXATION EN COMMUN DES PRIX DE VENTE PAR LES PRODUCTEURS DE LA QUASI-TOTALITE DE QUININE ET DE QUINIDINE ECOULEE DANS LE MARCHE COMMUN , EST DE NATURE A AFFECTER LE COMMERCE ENTRE LES ETATS MEMBRES ET LIMITE DE MANIERE GRAVE LA CONCURRENCE DANS LE MARCHE COMMUN ;
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125 THE APPLICANT MAINTAINS THAT OWING IN PARTICULAR TO THE SHORTAGE OF RAW MATERIALS THE SHARING OUT OF DOMESTIC MARKETS, AS EMERGES FROM THE EXCHANGE OF LETTERS OF OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER 1963, HAD NO EFFECT ON COMPETITION IN THE COMMON MARKET .
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134 . QUE SI , COMME LE SOUTIENT LA DEFENDERESSE , LES PARTIES A LA CONVENTION D ' EXPORTATION AVAIENT CONTINUE JUSQU ' A FEVRIER 1965 A APPLIQUER , POUR LEURS FOURNITURES DANS LES ETATS MEMBRES SUSVISES , LEURS PRIX COURANTS A L ' EXPORTATION , IL EN RESULTERAIT QU ' ELLES AURAIENT CONTINUE A SE CONFORMER A LA PARTIE DU GENTLEMEN ' S AGREEMENT RELATIVE A LA FIXATION EN COMMUN DES PRIX DE VENTE ;
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126 DESPITE THE SCARCITY OF RAW MATERIALS AND AN INCREASE IN THE DEMAND FOR THE PRODUCTS IN QUESTION, AS THE CONTESTED DECISION FINDS, A SERIOUS THREAT OF SHORTAGE NEVERTHELESS EMERGED ONLY IN 1964 AS A RESULT OF THE INTERRUPTION OF NEDCHEM' S SUPPLIES FROM THE AMERICAN GENERAL SERVICE ADMINISTRATION .
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135 . ATTENDU QU ' EN CE QUI CONCERNE LA PERIODE DE NOVEMBRE 1962 A AVRIL 1964 , LES DONNEES FOURNIES PAR LA DEFENDERESSE MONTRENT UNE IDENTITE SUBSTANTIELLE ET CONSTANTE ENTRE LES PRIX COURANTS FIXES A L ' EXPORTATION DANS LE CADRE DE L ' ENTENTE ET LES PRIX PRATIQUES PAR LES INTERESSES , Y COMPRIS LA REQUERANTE , POUR LEURS VENTES DANS LES MARCHES NATIONAUX NON PROTEGES DE LA COMMUNAUTE ;
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127 ON THE OTHER HAND SUCH A SITUATION CANNOT RENDER LAWFUL AN AGREEMENT THE OBJECT OF WHICH IS TO RESTRICT COMPETITION IN THE COMMON MARKET AND WHICH AFFECTS TRADE BETWEEN THE MEMBER STATES .
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136 . QUE , LORSQUE CES PRIX S ' ECARTENT DU BAREME DES PRIX A L ' EXPORTATION , C ' EST EN FONCTION DE RABAIS OU DE MAJORATIONS CORRESPONDANT GENERALEMENT A CEUX CONVENUS SOUS L ' EMPIRE DU GENTLEMEN ' S AGREEMENT ;
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128 THE SHARING OUT OF DOMESTIC MARKETS HAS AS ITS OBJECT THE RESTRICTION OF COMPETITION AND TRADE WITHIN THE COMMON MARKET .
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137 . QUE LA REQUERANTE N ' A FOURNI AUCUNE PREUVE SUSCEPTIBLE D ' INFIRMER LE BIEN-FONDE DE CETTE DEMONSTRATION ;
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129 THE FACT THAT, IF THERE WERE A THREATENED SHORTAGE OF RAW MATERIALS, SUCH AN AGREEMENT MIGHT IN PRACTICE HAVE HAD LESS INFLUENCE ON COMPETITION AND ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE THAN IN A NORMAL PERIOD IN NO WAY ALTERS THE FACT THAT THE PARTIES DID NOT TERMINATE THEIR ACTIVITIES .
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138 . QUE , D ' AUTRE PART , L ' AUGMENTATION DES PRIX DE 15 % DECIDEE EN COMMUN LE 12 MARS 1964 EN VERTU DE LA CONVENTION D ' EXPORTATION QUI AVAIT PERMIS DE FAIRE CESSER L ' OPPOSITION DE NEDCHEM , A ETE UNIFORMEMENT APPLIQUEE , BIEN QUE CETTE ENTREPRISE EUT PREFERE CONTINUER A PRATIQUER DES PRIX PLUS BAS , EGALEMENT AUX LIVRAISONS EN ITALIE , EN BELGIQUE ET AU LUXEMBOURG ;
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130 FURTHERMORE THE APPLICANT HAS FURNISHED NO CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE CAPABLE OF PROVING THAT IT HAD CEASED TO ACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AGREEMENT BEFORE THE DATE OF EXPIRY OF THE EXPORT AGREEMENT .
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139 . QUE CES CIRCONSTANCES FONT APPARAITRE QU ' EN MATIERE DE PRIX DE VENTE LES PARTIES A LA CONVENTION D ' EXPORTATION ONT CONTINUE , APRES OCTOBRE 1962 , A SE COMPORTER DANS LE MARCHE COMMUN COMME SI LE GENTLEMEN ' S AGREEMENT DE 1960 ETAIT ENCORE EN VIGUEUR ;
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131 CONSEQUENTLY, THE SUBMISSIONS CONCERNING THAT PART OF THE DECISION RELATING TO THE CONTINUATION OF THE AGREEMENT ON THE PROTECTION OF THE PRODUCERS' DOMESTIC MARKETS UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY 1965 ARE UNFOUNDED .
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140 . ATTENDU QUE LE COMPORTEMENT TENU PAR LES MEMBRES DE L ' ENTENTE EN MATIERE DE PRIX DES LE MOIS DE MAI 1964 N ' A FAIT L ' OBJET DE DISCUSSIONS APPROFONDIES QU ' A LA SUITE DES QUESTIONS POSEES PAR LA COUR A LA DEFENDERESSE AU COURS DE LA PROCEDURE ORALE ;
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III - THE JOINT FIXING OF SALES PRICES
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141 . QU ' IL RESSORT DE CES DEBATS , COMPTE TENU DES DONNEES FOURNIES PAR LES PARTIES , QU ' AU COURS DE L ' ANNEE 1964 , ET NOTAMMENT A PARTIR DU MOIS DE MAI , UN MEMBRE DE L ' ENTENTE A APPLIQUE , DANS UN NOMBRE CROISSANT DE CAS , DES PRIX QUI S ' ECARTENT DES PRIX COURANTS A L ' EXPORTATION , SANS QUE LA DEFENDERESSE AIT ETE EN MESURE D ' EXPLIQUER D ' UNE MANIERE CONVAINCANTE COMMENT CE FAIT POURRAIT SE CONCILIER AVEC LE MAINTIEN EN VIGUEUR DE L ' ACCORD DONT IL S ' AGIT ;
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132 WITH REGARD TO THE JOINT FIXING OF SALES PRICES FOR THE MARKETS WHICH WERE NOT SHARED OUT, THAT IS TO SAY, THE BELGO-LUXEMBOURG ECONOMIC UNION AND ITALY, THE GENTLEMEN' S AGREEMENT PROVIDED FOR THE APPLICATION TO SUCH SALES OF THE CURRENT PRICES FOR EXPORTS TO THIRD COUNTRIES FIXED BY MUTUAL AGREEMENT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EXPORT AGREEMENT .
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142 . QUE LE DEFAUT DE COMMUNICATION AUX INTERESSES DES RESULTATS DES VERIFICATIONS EFFECTUEES EN ITALIE ET EN BELGIQUE , QUI A EMPECHE TOUTE POSSIBILITE DE CLARIFICATION ET DE DISCUSSION AU STADE DE LA PROCEDURE ADMINISTRATIVE , PARAIT SUSCEPTIBLE D ' AVOIR CONTRIBUE A MAINTENIR DANS L ' OMBRE LES FAITS QUI AURAIENT DU ETRE MIS EN LUMIERE ;
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133 THE JOINT FIXING OF SALES PRICES BY THE PRODUCERS OF VIRTUALLY ALL THE QUININE AND QUINIDINE DISTRIBUTED WITHIN THE COMMON MARKET IS CAPABLE OF AFFECTING TRADE BETWEEN MEMBER STATES AND SERIOUSLY RESTRICTS COMPETITION WITHIN THE COMMON MARKET .
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143 . QUE , DANS CES CONDITIONS , IL N ' A PAS ETE ETABLI A SUFFISANCE DE DROIT QUE LA REQUERANTE A PRATIQUE , DE COMMUN ACCORD AVEC LES AUTRES PRODUCTEURS , DES PRIX UNIFORMES POUR SES VENTES DANS L ' UNION BELGO-LUXEMBOURGEOISE ET EN ITALIE APRES MAI 1964 ;
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134 IF, AS THE DEFENDANT MAINTAINS, THE PARTIES TO THE EXPORT AGREEMENT CONTINUED UNTIL FEBRUARY 1965 TO APPLY THEIR CURRENT EXPORT PRICES TO SUPPLIES TO THE ABOVEMENTIONED MEMBER STATES, IT WOULD FOLLOW THAT THEY CONTINUED TO ABIDE BY THAT PART OF THE GENTLEMEN' S AGREEMENT RELATING TO THE JOINT FIXING OF SALES PRICES .
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144 . QUE , DES LORS , LA PERIODE DE MAI 1964 A FEVRIER 1965 DOIT ETRE ECARTEE DE L ' INFRACTION ;
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135 WITH REGARD TO THE PERIOD FROM NOVEMBER 1962 TO APRIL 1964, THE FIGURES SUPPLIED BY THE DEFENDANT SHOW A SUBSTANTIAL AND CONSTANT IDENTITY BETWEEN THE CURRENT PRICES FIXED FOR EXPORT WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE AGREEMENT AND THE PRICES MAINTAINED BY THE UNDERTAKINGS CONCERNED, INCLUDING THE APPLICANT, FOR THEIR SALES IN UNPROTECTED DOMESTIC MARKETS IN THE COMMUNITY .
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IV - SUR LES QUOTAS DE VENTE
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136 WHERE SUCH PRICES DEVIATE FROM THE SCALE OF EXPORT PRICES THEY DO SO IN TERMS OF REBATES OR INCREASES CORRESPONDING GENERALLY TO THOSE AGREED ON UNDER THE GENTLEMEN' S AGREEMENT .
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145 . ATTENDU QU ' EN CE QUI CONCERNE LA FIXATION DES QUOTAS DE VENTE POUR LE MARCHE COMMUN , ASSORTIE D ' UN SYSTEME DE COMPENSATION , ET CONSTITUANT UNE GARANTIE SUPPLEMENTAIRE DE LA REPARTITION DES MARCHES NATIONAUX , LA REQUERANTE SOUTIENT QUE LA CONDITION NECESSAIRE POUR LE FONCTIONNEMENT D ' UN TEL SYSTEME , A SAVOIR LA COMMUNICATION RECIPROQUE DE LA TOTALITE DES VENTES , Y COMPRIS CELLES EFFECTUEES DANS LA COMMUNAUTE , N ' AURAIT PLUS EU LIEU APRES LE MOIS D ' OCTOBRE 1962 ;
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137 THE APPLICANT HAD SUPPLIED NO EVIDENCE CAPABLE OF PROVING THAT THIS ARGUMENT IS UNFOUNDED .
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146 . ATTENDU QU ' IL N ' APPARAIT PAS DE MANIERE CERTAINE QUE LES COMMUNICATIONS DES INTERESSES RELATIVES AUX VENTES , PRODUITES PAR LA DEFENDERESSE A L ' APPUI DE SON AFFIRMATION CONTRAIRE , CONCERNENT EGALEMENT LES LIVRAISONS DANS LE MARCHE COMMUN ;
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138 MOREOVER THE INCREASE IN PRICES OF 15 PER CENT, WHICH WAS JOINTLY DECIDED UPON ON 12 MARCH 1964 UNDER THE EXPORT AGREEMENT WHICH LED NEDCHEM TO WITHDRAW ITS OPPOSITION, WAS UNIFORMLY APPLIED - ALTHOUGH THAT UNDERTAKING WOULD HAVE PREFERRED TO CONTINUE TO FIX LOWER PRICES - WITH REGARD TO SUPPLIES TO ITALY, BELGIUM AND LUXEMBOURG ALSO .
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147 . QU ' AU CONTRAIRE , CES DOCUMENTS SE REFERENT GENERALEMENT DE MANIERE EXPRESSE AUX " VENTES A L ' EXPORTATION " , EXPRESSION PAR LAQUELLE LES MEMBRES DE L ' ENTENTE DESIGNAIENT HABITUELLEMENT LES VENTES AUX PAYS TIERS ;
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139 THESE CIRCUMSTANCES SHOW THAT WITH REGARD TO SALES PRICES THE PARTIES TO THE EXPORT AGREEMENT CONTINUED AFTER OCTOBER 1962 TO ACT IN THE COMMON MARKET AS IF THE GENTLEMEN' S AGREEMENT OF 1960 WERE STILL IN FORCE .
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148 . QU ' EN OUTRE , IL RESSORT D ' UN ECHANGE DE LETTRES DE JANVIER 1964 ENTRE DEUX MEMBRES DE L ' ENTENTE QUE MEME LA COMMUNICATION DES CHIFFRES RELATIFS A CES VENTES A L ' EXPORTATION N ' ETAIT PLUS EFFECTUEE DE MANIERE REGULIERE ;
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140 THE ACTION TAKEN BY THE PARTIES TO THE AGREEMENT WITH REGARD TO PRICES FROM MAY 1964 WAS ONLY DISCUSSED IN DEPTH AS A RESULT OF THE QUESTIONS PUT BY THE COURT TO THE DEFENDANT DURING THE ORAL PROCEDURE .
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149 . QUE LA DEFENDERESSE ELLE-MEME , DANS LES MOTIFS DE LA DECISION ATTAQUEE ADMET QU ' AU COURS DES ANNEES 1963-1964 , LE MECANISME DES COMPENSATIONS , VISANT A ASSURER LE RESPECT DES QUOTAS , N ' A PAS ETE APPLIQUE , EN RAISON DE LA RAREFACTION DES MATIERES PREMIERES ET DE L ' AUGMENTATION DE LA DEMANDE , DE SORTE QUE LES MEMBRES DE L ' ENTENTE N ' AVAIENT PLUS INTERET A EFFECTUER DES LIVRAISONS COMPENSATOIRES ENTRE EUX ;
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141 IT IS CLEAR FROM THE ORAL PROCEDURE, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY THE PARTIES, THAT DURING 1964 AND IN PARTICULAR FROM MAY ONWARDS, A PARTY TO THE AGREEMENT APPLIED PRICES WHICH IN AN INCREASING NUMBER OF CASES DEVIATED FROM THE CURRENT EXPORT PRICES, AND THAT THE DEFENDANT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO GIVE A CONVINCING EXPLANATION AS TO HOW THIS MIGHT BE RECONCILED WITH THE CONTINUATION IN FORCE OF THE AGREEMENT IN QUESTION .
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150 . ATTENDU QUE LA DEFENDERESSE A PRESENTE A L ' AUDIENCE UN TABLEAU DES QUANTITES DE QUININE ECOULEE PAR NEDCHEM , BOEHRINGER ET BUCHLER DE 1962 A 1964 , TENDANT A DEMONTRER QUE CES QUANTITES , CONSIDEREES EN POURCENTAGE DU TOTAL DES QUOTAS , NE S ' ECARTENT PAS SENSIBLEMENT POUR CETTE PERIODE DU QUOTA ASSIGNE A CHACUNE DE CES ENTREPRISES DANS LE CADRE DE L ' ENTENTE ET , PAR LA , QUE LE MECANISME DES QUOTAS AURAIT CONTINUE A FONCTIONNER APRES 1962 ;
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142 THE FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE TO THE UNDERTAKINGS CONCERNED THE RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATIONS CARRIED OUT IN ITALY AND BELGIUM, WHICH EXCLUDED ANY POSSIBILITY OF CLARIFICATION AND DISCUSSION AT THE STAGE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE, MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO LEAVING UNEXPLAINED FACTS WHICH OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN CLARIFIED .
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150 . ATTENDU CEPENDANT QUE CE TABLEAU , QUI EXCLUT D ' AILLEURS LES VENTES DE QUINIDINE , FAIT APPARAITRE QUE , MEME EN PRENANT COMME BASE UNE MOYENNE ETABLIE SUR LES DEUX DERNIERES ANNEES , DES ECARTS NON NEGLIGEABLES SUBSISTENT POUR CHACUNE DES TROIS ENTREPRISES PAR RAPPORT A SON PROPRE QUOTA ;
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143 IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES PROOF HAS NOT BEEN SUFFICIENTLY ESTABLISHED IN LAW THAT THE APPLICANT BY MUTUAL AGREEMENT WITH THE OTHER PRODUCERS MAINTAINED UNIFORM PRICES FOR ITS SALES IN THE BELGO-LUXEMBOURG ECONOMIC UNION AND ITALY AFTER MAY 1964 .
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152 . QU ' EN OUTRE , LES CHIFFRES FOURNIS PAR LA COMMISSION ONT UN CARACTERE GLOBAL , COMPRENANT LA TOTALITE DES VENTES DE QUININE DES INTERESSES ET NE PERMETTANT DONC PAS DE VOIR QUELLE A ETE L ' EVOLUTION DU COMPORTEMENT DE CEUX-CI DANS LE MARCHE COMMUN ;
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144 CONSEQUENTLY THE PERIOD FROM MAY 1964 TO FEBRUARY 1965 MUST BE OMITTED FROM THE INFRINGEMENT .
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153 . QU ' EN L ' ABSENCE DE PREUVES SUFFISANTES SUR LA CONTINUATION DU SYSTEME DES QUOTAS POUR LES VENTES DANS LE MARCHE COMMUN APRES OCTOBRE 1962 , IL Y A LIEU DE CONCLURE QUE LES GRIEFS DE LA REQUERANTE A L ' EGARD DE CETTE PARTIE DE LA DECISION ATTAQUEE SONT FONDES ;
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IV - THE SALES QUOTAS
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V - SUR LES LIMITATIONS APPORTEES A LA FABRICATION DE LA QUINIDINE SYNTHETIQUE
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145 WITH REGARD TO THE FIXING OF SALES QUOTAS FOR THE COMMON MARKET, WHICH WAS LINKED TO A SYSTEM OF COMPENSATION AND WHICH CONSTITUTED A SUPPLEMENTARY GUARANTEE OF THE SHARING OUT OF DOMESTIC MARKETS, THE APPLICANT MAINTAINS THAT THE NECESSARY CONDITION FOR THE FUNCTIONING OF SUCH A SYSTEM, NAMELY THE RECIPROCAL NOTIFICATION OF ALL SALES INCLUDING THOSE EFFECTED WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, WAS NO LONGER FULFILLED SUBSEQUENT TO OCTOBER 1962 .
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154 . ATTENDU QUE LE GENTLEMEN ' S AGREEMENT INTERDISAIT AU GROUPE DES ENTREPRISES FRANCAISES DE FABRIQUER DE LA QUINIDINE SYNTHETIQUE ;
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146 IT IS NOT CLEAR THAT THE COMMUNICATIONS OF THE UNDERTAKINGS CONCERNED RELATING TO SALES, WHICH THE DEFENDANT HAS PRODUCED IN SUPPORT OF ITS OPPOSING STATEMENT, ALSO RELATE TO SUPPLIES WITHIN THE COMMON MARKET .
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155 . QUE PAR LA GRAVITE DES RESTRICTIONS IMPOSEES A DES ENTREPRISES D ' UN ETAT MEMBRE EN FAVEUR D ' ENTREPRISES D ' AUTRES ETATS MEMBRES ET COMPTE TENU DE L ' IMPORTANCE DE CES ENTREPRISES SUR LE MARCHE CONCERNE , CES INTERDICTIONS ONT MANIFESTEMENT POUR OBJET DE RESTREINDRE LE JEU DE LA CONCURRENCE A L ' INTERIEUR DU MARCHE COMMUN ET SONT DE NATURE A AFFECTER LE COMMERCE ENTRE LES ETATS MEMBRES ;
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147 ON THE CONTRARY, SUCH DOCUMENTS IN GENERAL REFER EXPRESSLY TO " EXPORT SALES ", AN EXPRESSION HABITUALLY EMPLOYED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE CARTEL TO INDICATE SALES TO THIRD COUNTRIES .
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156 . QUE LA CIRCONSTANCE QUE LES ENTREPRISES FRANCAISES N ' AURAIENT PAS ETE EN MESURE , A L ' EPOQUE OU CET ACCORD A ETE CONCLU , DE FABRIQUER DE LA QUINIDINE SYNTHETIQUE NE SAURAIT RENDRE LICITE UNE TELLE RESTRICTION QUI EMPECHAIT TOUTE POSSIBILITE DE LEUR PART D ' ENTREPRENDRE CETTE ACTIVITE ;
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148 FURTHERMORE, IT IS CLEAR FROM AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS IN JANUARY 1964 BETWEEN TWO MEMBERS OF THE CARTEL THAT EVEN SUCH EXPORT SALES FIGURES WERE NO LONGER COMMUNICATED REGULARLY .
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157 . ATTENDU QUE L ' ACCEPTATION PAR LES ENTREPRISES FRANCAISES DE CETTE LIMITATION A LEUR LIBERTE D ' ACTION PEUT S ' EXPLIQUER EN CONSIDERATION DE L ' INTERET QU ' ELLES AVAIENT - EN RAISON DES PRIX PARTICULIEREMENT ELEVES QU ' ELLES PRATIQUAIENT EN FRANCE POUR LEURS PRODUITS - A SAUVEGARDER LA PROTECTION TERRITORIALE DONT ELLES BENEFICIENT SUR LEUR MARCHE NATIONAL ;
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149 THE DEFENDANT ITSELF ADMITS IN THE STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR THE CONTESTED DECISION THAT DURING 1963 AND 1964 THE COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS WHICH WERE INTENDED TO ENSURE THAT THE QUOTAS WERE OBSERVED WERE NOT APPLIED BECAUSE OF THE SCARCITY OF RAW MATERIALS AND BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN DEMAND, SO THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE CARTEL HAD NO FURTHER INTEREST IN EFFECTING COMPENSATORY DELIVERIES BETWEEN THEMSELVES .
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158 . QU ' EN TENANT COMPTE DU LIEN AINSI EXISTANT ENTRE CES DEUX RESTRICTIONS DE LA CONCURRENCE , ON PEUT RAISONNABLEMENT CONCLURE QUE L ' INTERDICTION DE PRODUCTION A DURE AUTANT QUE LA PROTECTION TERRITORIALE ;
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150 AT THE HEARING THE DEFENDANT PRODUCED A TABLE OF THE AMOUNTS OF QUININE DISPOSED OF BY NEDCHEM, BOEHRINGER AND BUCHLER FROM 1962 TO 1964 WITH THE OBJECT OF PROVING THAT THOSE QUANTITIES, VIEWED AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL OF THE QUOTAS, DID NOT DEVIATE PERCEPTIBLY FOR THAT PERIOD FROM THE QUOTA ASSIGNED TO EACH OF THE UNDERTAKINGS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE AGREEMENT AND THUS THAT THE QUOTA ARRANGEMENT CONTINUED TO OPERATE AFTER 1962 .
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159 . QUE S ' IL EST VRAI QUE BOEHRINGER , EN MARS 1964 , A CEDE UNE LICENCE POUR LA PRODUCTION DE QUINIDINE AU MEMBRE ANGLAIS RESTANT DANS L ' ENTENTE ET AUQUEL LE GENTLEMEN ' S AGREEMENT IMPOSAIT DES INTERDICTIONS ANALOGUES A CELLES IMPOSEES AUX ENTREPRISES FRANCAISES , CE FAIT NE CHANGE RIEN A CE QUI A ETE DEJA CONSTATE QUANT AUX RAPPORTS ENTRE LES ENTREPRISES FRANCAISES ET LES MEMBRES ALLEMANDS ET NEERLANDAIS DE L ' ENTENTE ;
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151 NEVERTHELESS, THIS TABLE, WHICH MOREOVER DOES NOT INCLUDE SALES OF QUINIDINE, SHOWS THAT, EVEN TAKING AS A BASIS AN AVERAGE RECORDED OVER THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS, THERE ARE CONSIDERABLE DEVIATIONS IN THE CASE OF EACH OF THE THREE UNDERTAKINGS IN RELATION TO ITS OWN QUOTA .
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160 . QUE S ' IL EST POSSIBLE QU ' EN RAISON DE LA RAREFACTION DES MATIERES PREMIERES , CONSTATEE PAR LA DECISION ATTAQUEE ( N . 29 , DERNIER ALINEA ) , LA PROTECTION DES MARCHES NATIONAUX N ' AIT PAS , DANS SA DERNIERE PERIODE , EXERCE D ' EFFETS IMPORTANTS SUR LE PLAN DE LA CONCURRENCE ET DES ECHANGES ENTRE LES ETATS MEMBRES , CETTE ENTENTE N ' A PAS MOINS DURE JUSQU ' EN FEVRIER 1965 ;
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152 FURTHERMORE, THE COMMISSION HAS SUPPLIED COMPREHENSIVE FIGURES COVERING ALL THE SALES OF QUININE BY THE UNDERTAKINGS CONCERNED AND IT IS THUS IMPOSSIBLE TO DISCERN FROM THEM THE COURSE OF CONDUCT OF THOSE UNDERTAKINGS IN THE COMMON MARKET .
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161 . QU ' A DEFAUT DE TOUT INDICE CONTRAIRE ET EU EGARD AUX LIENS INDIQUES CI-DESSUS ENTRE LES DEUX ASPECTS DE L ' ENTENTE , IL Y A LIEU DE CONSIDERER QUE L ' ACCORD RESTREIGNANT LA LIBERTE DE FABRICATION DES ENTREPRISES FRANCAISES A EU LA MEME DUREE ;
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153 SINCE THERE IS INSUFFICIENT PROOF THAT THE SYSTEM OF QUOTAS FOR SALES WITHIN THE COMMON MARKET WAS CONTINUED AFTER OCTOBER 1962, IT MUST BE CONCLUDED THAT THE APPLICANT' S COMPLAINTS WITH REGARD TO THIS PART OF THE CONTESTED DECISION ARE WELL FOUNDED .
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162 . QUE DES LORS , LES GRIEFS QUE LA REQUERANTE A FAIT VALOIR A CET EGARD NE SONT PAS FONDES ;
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V - RESTRICTIONS ON THE MANUFACTURE OF SYNTHETIC QUINIDINE
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VI - APPRECIATION GLOBALE DE L ' ENTENTE DANS LE MARCHE COMMUN
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154 THE GENTLEMEN' S AGREEMENT PROHIBITED THE GROUP OF FRENCH UNDERTAKINGS FROM MANUFACTURING SYNTHETIC QUINIDINE .
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163 . ATTENDU QU ' IL RESSORT DE L ' ENSEMBLE DE CE QUI PRECEDE QUE LA REQUERANTE A PARTICIPE AVEC D ' AUTRES PRODUCTEURS DE QUININE ET DE QUINIDINE A UNE ENTENTE INTERDITE PAR L ' ARTICLE 85 DU TRAITE CEE ;
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155 OWING TO THE STRINGENCY OF THE RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED ON UNDERTAKINGS FROM ONE MEMBER STATE FOR THE BENEFIT OF UNDERTAKINGS IN OTHER MEMBER STATES AND TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE IMPORTANCE OF SUCH UNDERTAKINGS ON THE MARKET IN QUESTION, THESE PROHIBITIONS CLEARLY HAVE AS THEIR OBJECT THE RESTRICTION OF COMPETITION WITHIN THE COMMON MARKET AND ARE CAPABLE OF AFFECTING TRADE BETWEEN MEMBER STATES .
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164 . QUE CETTE ENTENTE A PERSISTE SOUS LA PLUPART DE SES ASPECTS , MEME APRES LA REUNION DU 29 OCTOBRE 1962 ;
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156 THE FACT RELIED UPON THAT, WHEN THE GENTLEMEN' S AGREEMENT WAS CONCLUDED, THE FRENCH UNDERTAKINGS WERE NOT IN A POSITION TO MANUFACTURE SYNTHETIC QUINIDINE DOES NOT RENDER LAWFUL SUCH A RESTRICTION WHICH ENTIRELY PRECLUDED THEM FROM TAKING UP THIS ACTIVITY .
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165 . QUE DES DOUTES SERIEUX SUR LE MAINTIEN DE L ' ENTENTE APRES 1962 NE SUBSISTENT QU ' EN CE QUI CONCERNE L ' APPLICATION DE QUOTAS DE VENTE ;
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157 THAT THE FRENCH UNDERTAKINGS SHOULD ACCEDE TO THIS RESTRICTION OF THEIR FREEDOM OF ACTION IS EXPLICABLE IN TERMS OF THEIR INTEREST - OWING TO THE PARTICULARLY HIGH PRICES WHICH THEY MAINTAINED FOR THEIR PRODUCTS IN FRANCE - IN PRESERVING THE TERRITORIAL PROTECTION WHICH THEY ENJOYED ON THEIR DOMESTIC MARKET .
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166 . QUE , CEPENDANT , LA CIRCONSTANCE QUE LES ENTREPRISES N ' AURAIENT PAS CONTINUE A APPLIQUER LE SYSTEME DES QUOTAS NE PARAIT PAS AVOIR AMELIORE SENSIBLEMENT LES CONDITIONS DE LA CONCURRENCE , DES LORS QU ' ELLES ONT PERSISTE A PRATIQUER DES PRIX FIXES EN COMMUN , A APPLIQUER UNIFORMEMENT POUR LEURS LIVRAISONS DANS LE MARCHE COMMUN DES AUGMENTATIONS COMMUNES DE PRIX , EFFECTUEES EN MARS ET EN OCTOBRE 1964 ET DECIDEES DANS LE CADRE DE LA CONVENTION D ' EXPORTATION , A MAINTENIR ENFIN LA PROTECTION DES MARCHES NATIONAUX RESPECTIFS ET L ' INTERDICTION POUR LES ENTREPRISES FRANCAISES DE PRODUIRE DE LA QUINIDINE SYNTHETIQUE ;
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158 TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE CONNEXION THUS EXISTING BETWEEN THOSE TWO RESTRICTIONS ON COMPETITION, IT MAY REASONABLY BE CONCLUDED THAT THE PROHIBITION ON PRODUCTION LASTED AS LONG AS THE TERRITORIAL PROTECTION .
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167 . QUE L ' APPLICATION DE PRIX UNIFORMES POUR LES LIVRAISONS EN ITALIE , EN BELGIQUE ET AU LUXEMBOURG N ' A TOUTEFOIS PU ETRE CONSTATEE QUE JUSQU ' EN AVRIL 1964 ;
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159 ALTHOUGH IT IS TRUE THAT IN MARCH 1964 BOEHRINGER GRANTED A LICENCE TO MANUFACTURE QUINIDINE TO THE REMAINING BRITISH MEMBER OF THE CARTEL, ON WHOM THE GENTLEMEN' S AGREEMENT IMPOSED PROHIBITIONS SIMILAR TO THOSE IMPOSED ON THE FRENCH UNDERTAKINGS, THIS HAS NO EFFECT ON THE FINDING WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE WITH REGARD TO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FRENCH UNDERTAKINGS AND THE GERMAN AND NETHERLANDS MEMBERS OF THE CARTEL .
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168 . QU ' ENFIN , MEME SI ON DEVAIT ADMETTRE QUE LA CONVENTION D ' EXPORTATION AURAIT PU FONCTIONNER INDEPENDAMMENT DE L ' ACCORD RELATIF AU MARCHE COMMUN , IL FAUT CONSTATER QU ' EN FAIT LES MEMBRES DE L ' ENTENTE ONT ATTRIBUE UNE GRANDE IMPORTANCE A CE QUE LES DEUX ACCORDS RECOIVENT CONJOINTEMENT APPLICATION ;
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160 ALTHOUGH IT IS POSSIBLE THAT, OWING TO THE SCARCITY OF RAW MATERIALS WHICH HAS ESTABLISHED BY THE CONTESTED DECISION ( NO 29, LAST PARAGRAPH ), IN ITS ULTIMATE PERIOD PROTECTION OF THE DOMESTIC MARKETS DID NOT HAVE IMPORTANT EFFECTS ON COMPETITION AND TRADE BETWEEN MEMBER STATES, THIS CARTEL NEVERTHELESS LASTED UNTIL FEBRUARY 1965 .
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169 . QUE , BIEN QU ' A PARTIR D ' OCTOBRE 1963 LA CONVENTION D ' EXPORTATION AIT ETE DECLAREE " EN SOMMEIL " , IL APPARAIT CLAIREMENT DES DECLARATIONS FAITES PAR LES INTERESSEES AU COURS DE LEURS REUNIONS POSTERIEURES AINSI QUE DE L ' ENSEMBLE DE LEUR COMPORTEMENT ULTERIEUR , QU ' ILS AVAIENT ENCORE INTERET A CE QUE CETTE CONVENTION SOIT PRESERVEE , NOTAMMENT EN VUE DE SON EVENTUELLE UTILISATION DANS LE MARCHE COMMUN ;
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161 IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY INDICATION TO THE CONTRARY AND HAVING REGARD TO THE ABOVEMENTIONED CONNEXIONS BETWEEN THE TWO ASPECTS OF THE CARTEL, IT MUST BE CONSIDERED THAT THE AGREEMENT RESTRICTING THE FRENCH UNDERTAKINGS' FREEDOM TO MANUFACTURE WAS OF THE SAME DURATION .
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VII - SUR LES GRIEFS RELATIFS A L ' AMENDE
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162 CONSEQUENTLY THE APPLICANT' S COMPLAINTS IN THIS RESPECT ARE UNFOUNDED .
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170 . ATTENDU QUE LA REQUERANTE REPROCHE A LA COMMISSION DE LUI AVOIR INFLIGE UNE AMENDE AU CHEF D ' UNE INFRACTION QUI AVAIT PRIS FIN ;
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VI - GENERAL APPRAISAL OF THE AGREEMENT WITHIN THE COMMON MARKET
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171 . QUE LES AMENDES PREVUES A L ' ARTICLE 15 , PARAGRAPHE 2 , DU REGLEMENT N . 17 AURAIENT LE CARACTERE D ' ASTREINTES , ET NON PAS DE SANCTIONS PENALES ;
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163 IT IS CLEAR FROM THE FOREGOING THAT THE APPLICANT PARTICIPATED WITH OTHER PRODUCERS OF WUININE AND QUINIDINE IN AN AGREEMENT PROHIBITED BY ARTICLE 85 OF THE EEC TREATY .
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172 . ATTENDU QUE LES SANCTIONS PREVUES PAR L ' ARTICLE 15 DU REGLEMENT N . 17 N ' ONT PAS LE CARACTERE D ' ASTREINTES ;
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164 THIS AGREEMENT CONTINUED IN MOST OF ITS FORMS EVEN AFTER THE MEETING ON 29 OCTOBER 1962 .
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173 . QU ' ELLES ONT POUR BUT DE REPRIMER DES COMPORTEMENTS ILLICITES AUSSI BIEN QUE D ' EN PREVENIR LE RENOUVELLEMENT ;
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165 SERIOUS DOUBTS AS TO THE CONTINUATION OF THE AGREEMENT AFTER 1962 EXIST ONLY WITH REGARD TO THE APPLICATION OF SALES QUOTAS .
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174 . QUE CETTE FINALITE NE POURRAIT ETRE ATTEINTE DE MANIERE ADEQUATE SI L ' APPLICATION D ' UNE SANCTION DEVAIT ETRE LIMITEE AUX SEULES INFRACTIONS ACTUELLES ;
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166 NEVERTHELESS, THE FACT THAT THE UNDERTAKINGS DID NOT CONTINUE TO APPLY THE SYSTEM OF QUOTAS DOES NOT SEEM PERCEPTIBLY TO HAVE IMPROVED THE CONDITIONS OF COMPETITION, SINCE THEY CONTINUED JOINTLY TO FIX PRICES, TO APPLY UNIFORMLY TO THEIR DELIVERIES IN THE COMMON MARKET JOINT PRICE INCREASES ARRANGED IN MARCH AND OCTOBER 1964 AND DECIDED WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE EXPORT AGREEMENT AND FINALLY TO MAINTAIN PROTECTION OF THEIR RESPECTIVE DOMESTIC MARKETS AND THE PROHIBITION ON THE FRENCH UNDERTAKINGS' PRODUCTION OF SYNTHETIC QUINIDINE .
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175 . QUE LE POUVOIR DE LA COMMISSION D ' INFLIGER DES SANCTIONS N ' EST NULLEMENT AFFECTE PAR LE FAIT QUE LE COMPORTEMENT CONSTITUTIF DE L ' INFRACTION ET LA POSITION DE SES EFFETS NUISIBLES ONT CESSE ;
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167 HOWEVER, THE APPLICATION OF UNIFORM PRICES FOR DELIVERIES TO ITALY, BELGIUM AND LUXEMBOURG HAS ONLY BEEN PROVED TO EXIST UP TO APRIL 1964 .
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176 . QUE L ' APPRECIATION DE LA GRAVITE DE L ' INFRACTION , AUX FINS DE LA FIXATION DU MONTANT DE L ' AMENDE , DOIT ETRE EFFECTUEE EN TENANT COMPTE NOTAMMENT DE LA NATURE DES RESTRICTIONS APPORTEES A LA CONCURRENCE , DU NOMBRE ET DE L ' IMPORTANCE DES ENTREPRISES CONCERNEES , DE LA FRACTION RESPECTIVE DU MARCHE QU ' ELLES CONTROLENT DANS LA COMMUNAUTE AINSI QUE DE LA SITUATION DU MARCHE A L ' EPOQUE OU L ' INFRACTION A ETE COMMISE ;
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168 FINALLY, EVEN IF IT MUST BE CONCEDED THAT THE EXPORT AGREEMENT COULD HAVE OPERATED INDEPENDENTLY OF THE AGREEMENT RELATING TO THE COMMON MARKET, IT MUST BE FOUND THAT IN FACT THE MEMBERS OF THE CARTEL ATTRIBUTED GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE JOINT APPLICATION OF BOTH AGREEMENTS .
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177 . ATTENDU QUE LA REQUERANTE SOULEVE UNE EXCEPTION D ' ILLEGALITE A L ' ENCONTRE DE L ' ARTICLE 15 SUSVISE , MOTIF PRIS DE CE QUE LE SYSTEME DES AMENDES PREVU PAR CETTE DISPOSITION SERAIT ESSENTIELLEMENT DIFFERENT DU SYSTEME PREVU PAR LE PROJET DE LA COMMISSION SUR LEQUEL LE PARLEMENT EUROPEEN AVAIT ETE ENTENDU ;
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169 ALTHOUGH FROM OCTOBER 1963 THE EXPORT AGREEMENT WAS DECLARED TO BE " IN ABEYANCE ", IT IS CLEAR FROM THE DECLARATIONS MADE BY THE UNDERTAKINGS CONCERNED AT THEIR SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS TOGETHER WITH THEIR SUBSEQUENT CONDUCT AS A WHOLE THAT THEY CONTINUED TO HAVE AN INTEREST IN UPHOLDING THAT AGREEMENT, IN PARTICULAR WITH REGARD TO ITS POSSIBLE EMPLOYMENT WITHIN THE COMMON MARKET .
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178 . ATTENDU QUE LE PROJET DE REGLEMENT SUR LEQUEL LE PARLEMENT A ETE CONSULTE , CONSIDERE DANS SON ENSEMBLE , N ' A PAS ETE AFFECTE DANS SA SUBSTANCE MEME ;
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VII - COMPLAINTS RELATING TO THE FINE
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179 . QUE , DES LORS , L ' EXCEPTION D ' ILLEGALITE N ' EST PAS FONDEE ;
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170 THE APPLICANT COMPLAINS THAT THE COMMISSION IMPOSED ON IT A FINE FOR AN INFRINGEMENT WHICH HAD COME TO AN END .
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180 . ATTENDU QUE LA REQUERANTE DEMANDE A LA COUR DE SUPPRIMER OU , DU MOINS , DE REDUIRE CONSIDERABLEMENT L ' AMENDE PARCE QUE L ' INFRACTION QUI LUI EST IMPUTEE AURAIT UN CARACTERE " PUREMENT FORMEL " ;
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171 IT CLAIMS THAT THE FINES PROVIDED FOR IN ARTICLE 15 ( 2 ) OF REGULATION NO 17 ARE IN THE NATURE OF PERIODIC PENALTY PAYMENTS AND NOT PENALTIES OF A CRIMINAL LAW NATURE .
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181 . QU ' ELLE SOUTIENT , EN OUTRE , QU ' IL N ' Y AURAIT PAS DE JUSTE RAPPORT ENTRE L ' AMENDE IMPOSEE ET L ' INFRACTION COMMISE , COMPTE TENU NOTAMMENT DE CE QUE LA REQUERANTE AVAIT TOUJOURS SOUTENU AU SEIN DE L ' ENTENTE LE MAINTIEN DES PRIX A UN NIVEAU PEU ELEVE ;
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172 THE PENALTIES PROVIDED FOR IN ARTICLE 15 OF REGULATION NO 17 ARE NOT IN THE NATURE OF PERIODIC PENALTY PAYMENTS .
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182 . ATTENDU QU ' IL RESULTE DES CONSIDERATIONS DEJA EXPOSEES A PROPOS DES GRIEFS CONCERNANT LES CONSTATATIONS DES FAITS CONTENUS DANS LA DECISION LITIGIEUSE QUE L ' INFRACTION N ' A PAS UN CARACTERE PUREMENT FORMEL ;
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173 THEIR OBJECT IS TO SUPPRESS ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND TO PREVENT ANY REFERENCE .
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183 . QUE LA DECISION ATTAQUEE , AU NO 40 , ALINEA 3 , A EXPRESSEMENT FAIT ETAT DE CE QUE LA REQUERANTE S ' EST PRONONCEE A PLUSIEURS REPRISES EN FAVEUR DE PRIX RELATIVEMENT BAS .
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174 THIS OBJECT COULD NOT BE ADEQUATELY ATTAINED IF THE IMPOSITION OF A PENALTY WERE TO BE RESTRICTED TO CURRENT INFRINGEMENTS ALONE .
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184 . QUE LA COMMISSION A DONC TENU COMPTE DE CET ELEMENT DANS L ' EVALUATION DE L ' AMENDE
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175 THE COMMISSION' S POWER TO IMPOSE PENALTIES IS IN NO WAY AFFECTED BY THE FACT THAT THE CONDUCT CONSTITUTING THE INFRINGEMENT HAS CEASED AND THAT IT CAN NO LONGER HAVE DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS .
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185 . QUE LA PRISE EN CONSIDERATION DE CIRCONSTANCES ATTENUANTES EN FAVEUR DE LA REQUERANTE A EU POUR EFFET QUE L ' AMENDE QUI LUI A ETE APPLIQUEE , PAR RAPPORT A CELLES INFLIGEES AUX AUTRES MEMBRES DE L ' ENTENTE , EST PROPORTIONNELLEMENT INFERIEURE AU QUOTA DONT ELLE DISPOSAIT AU SEIN DE L ' ENTENTE ;
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176 FOR THE PURPOSE OF FIXING THE AMOUNT OF THE FINE, THE GRAVITY OF THE INFRINGEMENT IS TO BE APPRAISED BY TAKING INTO ACCOUNT IN PARTICULAR THE NATURE OF THE RESTRICTIONS ON COMPETITION, THE NUMBER AND SIZE OF THE UNDERTAKINGS CONCERNED, THE RESPECTIVE PROPORTIONS OF THE MARKET CONTROLLED BY THEM WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND THE SITUATION OF THE MARKET WHEN THE INFRINGEMENT WAS COMMITTED .
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186 . QUE LE MONTANT RELATIVEMENT ELEVE DE L ' AMENDE IMPOSEE A LA REQUERANTE SE JUSTIFIE CEPENDANT EN RAISON NOTAMMENT DE CE QUE CETTE ENTREPRISE DETIENT LA PLUS GRANDE PART DU MARCHE POUR LES PRODUITS EN CAUSE , EN CONSIDERATION DE L ' INFLUENCE MAJEURE QU ' ELLE A EXERCEE LORS DE L ' ELABORATION ET DE LA MISE EN OEUVRE DES ACCORDS , AINSI QUE DU CARACTERE GRAVE ET CONSCIENT DES INFRACTIONS PAR ELLE COMMISES ;
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177 THE APPLICANT RAISES AN OBJECTION OF ILLEGALITY AGAINST THE ABOVEMENTIONED ARTICLE 15 ON THE GROUND THAT THE SYSTEM OF FINES PROVIDED FOR BY THIS PROVISION DIFFERS IN ESSENTIALS FROM THE SYSTEM PROVIDED FOR BY THE COMMISSION' S DRAFT ON WHICH THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT WAS CONSULTED .
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187 . ATTENDU QUE LES CONSTATATIONS DE LA DECISION ATTAQUEE RELATIVES AUX INFRACTIONS IMPUTABLES A LA REQUERANTE SONT AINSI , EN LEURS PARTIES ESSENTIELLES , FONDEES ;
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178 CONSIDERED AS A WHOLE THE SUBSTANCE OF THE DRAFT REGULATION ON WHICH THE PARLIAMENT WAS CONSULTED HAS NOT BEEN ALTERED .
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188 . QUE L ' EXCLUSION DE LA FIXATION DE QUOTAS DE VENTE POUR LA PERIODE ALLANT DE NOVEMBRE 1962 A FEVRIER 1965 ET DES PRIX DE VENTE POUR LA PERIODE MAI 1964-FEVRIER 1965 , N ' AYANT PAS DIMINUE D ' UNE MANIERE SENSIBLE LA GRAVITE DES RESRICTIONS DE LA CONCURRENCE DECOULANT DE L ' ENTENTE , NE JUSTIFIE QU ' UNE LEGERE DIMINUTION DE L ' AMENDE ;
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179 CONSEQUENTLY THE OBJECTION OF ILLEGALITY IS UNFOUNDED .
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189 . QU ' IL Y A LIEU DE REDUIRE CELLE-CI A 200.000 UNITES DE COMPTE ;
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180 THE APPLICANT REQUESTS THE COURT TO CANCEL OR AT LEAST CONSIDERABLY TO REDUCE THE FINE BECAUSE THE INFRINGEMENT ALLEGED AGAINST IT IS OF A " PURELY FORMAL " NATURE .
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181 FURTHERMORE, IT MAINTAINS THAT THERE IS NO PROPER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FINE IMPOSED AND THE INFRINGEMENT COMMITTED TAKING INTO ACCOUNT IN PARTICULAR THE FACT THAT WITHIN THE CARTEL THE APPLICANT ALWAYS MAINTAINED THAT PRICES SHOULD BE KEPT AT A LOW LEVEL .
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182 IT IS CLEAR FROM THE CONSIDERATIONS PREVIOUSLY SET OUT IN CONNEXION WITH THE COMPLAINTS RELATING TO THE FINDINGS OF FACT CONTAINED IN THE DECISION IN DISPUTE THAT THE INFRINGEMENT WAS NOT OF A PURELY FORMAL NATURE .
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183 IN THE THIRD SUBPARAGRAPH OF PARAGRAPH 40 OF THE CONTESTED DECISION IT IS EXPRESSLY STATED THAT THE APPLICANT REPEATEDLY EXPRESSED ITSELF IN FAVOUR OF RELATIVELY LOW PRICES .
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184 THE COMMISSION HAS CONSEQUENTLY TAKEN THIS FACTOR INTO ACCOUNT IN ASSESSING THE FINE .
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185 THE CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO THE EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES OPERATING IN FAVOUR OF THE APPLICANT MEANS THAT THE FINE IMPOSED ON IT IS PROPORTIONALLY SMALLER, IN RELATION TO THOSE IMPOSED ON THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CARTEL, THAN ITS QUOTA WITHIN THE CARTEL .
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186 THE RELATIVELY LARGE AMOUNT OF THE FINE IMPOSED ON THE APPLICANT IS NEVERTHELESS JUSTIFIED OWING IN PARTICULAR TO THE FACT THAT THIS UNDERTAKING CONTROLS THE MAJOR PART OF THE MARKET IN THE PRODUCTS IN QUESTION AND IN CONSIDERATION OF THE LEADING PART WHICH IT PLAYED IN DRAWING UP AND IMPLEMENTING THE AGREEMENTS TOGETHER WITH THE GRAVE AND INTENTIONAL CHARACTER OF THE INFRINGEMENTS COMMITTED BY IT .
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187 THE FINDINGS OF THE CONTESTED DECISION RELATING TO THE INFRINGEMENTS ALLEGED AGAINST THE APPLICANT ARE THUS WELL FOUNDED IN THEIR ESSENTIALS .
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188 SINCE EXCLUDING THE FIXING OF SALES QUOTAS FOR THE PERIOD FROM NOVEMBER 1962 TO FEBRUARY 1965 AND OF THE SALES PRICES FOR THE PERIOD FROM MAY 1964 TO FEBRUARY 1965 DOES NOT APPRECIABLY DIMINISH THE GRAVITY OF THE RESTRICTIONS ON COMPETITION ARISING FROM THE AGREEMENT, IT JUSTIFIES ONLY A SLIGHT REDUCTION IN THE FINE .
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189 IT IS APPROPRIATE TO REDUCE THE FINE OF 200,000 UNITS OF ACCOUNT .
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