1. 

Judicial proceedings – Intervention – Objection of inadmissibility not raised by the defendant – Inadmissibility – Plea in law based on the applicant’s lack of standing to bring proceedings – Absolute bar to proceeding – To be considered of the Court’s own motion

(Statute of the Court of Justice, Arts 40, fourth para., and 53, first para.; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Arts 129 and 142(3))

(see paragraphs 27, 28)

2. 

Action for annulment – Natural or legal persons – Measures of direct and individual concern to them – Direct concern – Criteria – Commission decision declaring a concentration compatible with the internal market – Action brought by an undertaking competing with the parties to the operation – Decision liable to bring about an immediate change in the state of the market concerned – Direct concern to the applicant

(Art. 263, fourth para., TFEU)

(see paragraph 31)

3. 

Action for annulment – Natural or legal persons – Measures of direct and individual concern to them – Individual concern – Criteria – Commission decision declaring a concentration compatible with the internal market – Action brought by an undertaking competing with the parties to the operation – Undertaking having participated actively in the administrative procedure and proved specific circumstances characterising the conditions affecting its market position – Admissibility

(Art. 263, fourth para., TFEU)

(see paragraphs 32, 33, 38, 42-46)

4. 

Concentrations between undertakings – Examination by the Commission – Adoption of a decision finding a concentration compatible with the internal market without opening Phase II – Condition – No serious doubts – Economic assessments – Discretion – Judicial review – Limits – Manifest error of assessment

(Art. 263 TFEU; Council Regulation No 139/2004, Arts 2 and 6(1))

(see paragraphs 48-53, 199-202, 210, 351)

5. 

EU law – Definition – Interpretation – Taking account of a specific concept appearing only in the preamble to the act in question – Admissibility within the limits of the wording of the actual provisions of the act

(Council Regulation No 139/2004, recital 20 and Art. 3(1))

(see paragraphs 75-79)

6. 

Concentrations between undertakings – Examination by the Commission – Single concentration – Definition – Conditions – Interdependent operations conferring on one or more undertakings direct or indirect economic control over the activities of one or more other undertakings – Acquisition by independent undertakings of the control of different targets in an asset swap – Not included – No functional link between the operations at issue

(Council Regulation No 139/2004, recital 20 and Art. 3(1))

(see paragraphs 80-86, 90-94, 97-101)

7. 

Concentrations between undertakings – Assessment of the compatibility with the internal market – Creation or reinforcement of a dominant position significantly hindering effective competition in the internal market – Assessment of the anticompetitive effects of the transaction – Operations which are part of a complex asset swap with a relationship of interdependence making it possible to anticipate the likely effects on the market of each concentration – Application of the rule of priority – Not included – Overall assessment of all the evidence incumbent on the Commission

(Council Regulation No 139/2004, Art. 2(3))

(see paragraphs 107-121)

8. 

Acts of the institutions – Statement of reasons – Obligation – Scope – Decision to apply rules on concentrations between undertakings – Decision authorising a concentration operation

(Art. 296 TFEU; Council Regulation No 139/2004)

(see paragraphs 125-129, 139, 140, 145)

9. 

Concentrations between undertakings – Administrative procedure – Obligations of the Commission towards qualified third parties – Right to be heard – Scope

(Council Regulation No 139/2004, Art. 18(4); Commission Regulation No 802/2004, Arts 11(c) and 16(1))

(see paragraphs 154-165)

10. 

Concentrations between undertakings – Examination by the Commission – Commission decision declaring a concentration compatible with the internal market – Requirements arising from the principle of effective judicial protection – Adoption of any appropriate publicity necessary to enable interested third parties to the concentration to know the reasons behind it – Publication of a non-confidential version of that decision – Whether sufficient

(Arts 15, 296 and 297(2), TFEU; Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 47; Council Regulation No 139/2004, Art. 6(1)(b))

(see paragraphs 176-189)

11. 

Concentrations between undertakings – Assessment of the compatibility with the internal market – Creation or reinforcement of a dominant position significantly hindering effective competition in the internal market – Examination by the Commission – Prospective analysis – Definition of the period of analysis – Criteria

(Council Regulation No 139/2004, Art. 2(2) and (3))

(see paragraphs 231-234)

12. 

Concentrations between undertakings – Examination by the Commission – Assessment of the compatibility with the internal market – Compliance with the Guidelines adopted by the Commission – Consideration of the elements of assessment mentioned in those guidelines – Discretion of the Commission – Examination of the market share levels – Judicial review

(Council Regulation No 139/2004, Art. 2; Commission Notice 2004/C 31/03, points 14, 16, 19 to 21 and 27)

(see paragraphs 271, 349, 350)

13. 

Concentrations between undertakings – Examination by the Commission – Account taken of data provided by the parties to the concentration – Manifest error of assessment – Burden of proof

(Council Regulation No 139/2004)

(see paragraphs 277-280)

14. 

Concentrations between undertakings – Assessment of the compatibility with the internal market – Creation or reinforcement of a dominant position significantly hindering effective competition in the internal market – Assessment of the anticompetitive effects of the transaction – Evidence – High market share

(Council Regulation No 139/2004, Art. 2(3); Commission Notice 2004/C 31/03, point 17)

(see paragraphs 282-284)

15. 

Concentrations between undertakings – Assessment of the compatibility with the internal market – Creation or reinforcement of a dominant position significantly hindering effective competition in the internal market – Assessment of the anticompetitive effects of the transaction – Acquisition of a competitor’s minority shareholding – Criteria for assessment – Common shareholding

(Council Regulation No 139/2004, Arts 2(3) and 3(2))

(see paragraphs 367-388)

16. 

Concentrations between undertakings – Examination by the Commission – Economic assessments – Discretion – Duty of diligence – Scope

(Council Regulation No 139/2004)

(see paragraphs 400-405)

1. 

Dismisses the action;

2. 

Orders TEAG Thüringer Energie AG to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by the European Commission, E.ON SE and RWE AG;

3. 

Orders the Federal Republic of Germany to bear its own costs.