The EU Court of Justice upholds the judgment of the General Court in the cement cartel case and sets fines of €53.6 million (Aalborg Portland / Irish Cement / Ciments français / Italcementi / Buzzi Unicem / Cementir)

The Court of Justice upholds in substance the judgment delivered by the Court of First Instance in 2000 concerning the Cement Cartel Anti-competitive practices and agreements constitute economic infringements designed to maximise the profits of the participating undertakings. The harmful effects for the markets and for consumers are particularly serious in the cement sector, since they are passed on to the construction and housing sector and to the real-estate market in general. By a decision of 1994, the Commission condemned a series of agreements and practices in the European market in white and grey cement and imposed fines amounting in all to approximately EUR 250 million. On an action by the undertakings and associations of undertakings concerned,