Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Cour de cassation (France) lodged on 16 May 2011 — Expedia Inc. v Autorité de la concurrence, Ministre de l’économie de l’industrie et de l’emploi, Société nationale des chemins de fer français (SNCF), Voyages-SNCF.Com, Agence Voyages-SNCF.Com, Société VFE Commerce, Société IDTGV, société par actions simplifiée

(Case C-226/11)

2011/C 211/32

Language of the case: French

Referring court

Cour de cassation

Parties to the main proceedings

Applicant: Expedia Inc.

Defendants: Autorité de la concurrence, Ministre de l’économie de l’industrie et de l’emploi, Société nationale des chemins de fer français (SNCF), Voyages-SNCF.Com, Agence Voyages-SNCF.Com, Société VFE Commerce, Société IDTGV, société par actions simplifiée

Question referred

Should Article 101(1) TFEU and Article 3(2) of Regulation No 1/2003 (1) be interpreted as precluding proceedings being brought and penalties being imposed by a national competition authority, on the grounds of both Article 101(1) TFEU and the national law of competition, in respect of a practice under agreements, decisions of associations of undertakings or concerted action that may affect trade between Member States, but which does not reach the thresholds specified by the European Commission in its notice of 22 December 2001 on agreements of minor importance which do not appreciably restrict competition under Article 81(1) of the Treaty establishing the European Community (de minimis) (OJ 2001 C 368, p. 13)?

(1)  Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 of 16 December 2002 on the implementation of the rules on competition laid down in Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty (OJ 2003 L 1, p. 1).