Keywords
Subject of the case
Operative part

Keywords

Competition – Administrative procedure – Decision ordering an investigation – Duty to state reasons – Scope (Art. 253 EC; Council Regulation No 17, Art. 14(3)) (see paras 36-37)

2. Competition – Administrative procedure – Decision ordering an investigation – Respect for the principle of proportionality (Council Regulation No 17, Art. 14(3)) (see paras 62-64)

3. Competition – Administrative procedure – Commission’s powers of investigation – Scope – Access to the premises of undertakings (Council Regulation No 17, Art. 14) (see paras 69-72)

4. Competition – Administrative procedure – Commission’s powers of investigation – Decision ordering an investigation – Request for assistance addressed to national authorities – Judicial review – Exclusive competence of the national court (Council Regulation No 17, Art. 14(6)) (see para. 75)

Subject of the case

Re:

ACTION for, firstly, the annulment of Commission Decision C(2003) 1524/9 of 7 May 2003 in Case COMP/D1/38.606 ordering Groupement des cartes bancaires and its subsidiaries to submit to an investigation under Article 14(3) of Council Regulation No 17: First Regulation implementing Articles [81] and [82] of the Treaty (OJ, English Special Edition 1959-1962, p. 87), as amended, and, secondly, action for the removal from the file of all documents and other evidence brought to the knowledge of the Commission during the investigation and for their return to the applicant.

Operative part

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders the applicant to pay the costs.