Judgment of the Court of First Instance (Eighth Chamber) of 13 November 2008 – SPM v Council and Commission

(Case T-128/05)

Non-contractual liability of the Community – Common organisation of the markets – Bananas – Rules for importing of bananas from ACP countries into the European Union – Lawful or unlawful conduct – Loss allegedly suffered by independent ACP producer

1.                     Non-contractual liability – Conditions – Sufficiently serious breach of a rule of law conferring rights on individuals (Art. 288, second para., EC) (see paras 53-56)

2.                     Procedure – Application initiating proceedings – Formal requirements – Identification of the subject-matter of the dispute (Statute of the Court of Justice, Arts 21, first para., and 53, first para.; Rules of Procedure of the Court of First Instance, Art. 44(1)(c)) (see paras 62-64)

3.                     Agriculture – Common agricultural policy – Discretion of the Community institutions – Scope – Judicial review – Limits (see paras 94, 114)

4.                     International agreements – Agreements concluded by the Community – Direct effect – Conditions – Fourth ACP-EEC Lomé Convention (Fourth ACP-EEC Lomé Convention on 15 December 1989, Art. 168 and Protocol No 5; ACP-EC Cotonou Agreement, Protocol No 5, Art. 1) (see paras 97-106, 119, 131)

5.                     Agriculture – Common organisation of the markets – Bananas – System of importation (Council Regulation No 1637/98; Commission Regulation No 2362/98) (see paras 116, 146-159, 164-170, 178-182)

6.                     Competition – Administrative procedure – Examination of complaints (Council Regulation No 856/1999; ACP-EC Cotonou Agreement, Protocol No 5, Art. 1) (see paras 132-133)

7.                     Non-contractual liability – Conditions – Legal measure – Real damage, causal link and unusual and special damage – Cumulative nature (Art. 288, second para., EC) (see paras 187-188)

Re:

Operative part

The Court: