36In that connection, it must be pointed out that, according to settled case-law of the Court of Justice, respect for the rights of defence is, in all proceedings initiated against a person which are liable to culminate in a measure adversely affecting that person, a fundamental principle of Community law which must be guaranteed even in the absence of any rules governing the proceedings in question. That principle, as expounded in paragraph 21 of the judgment in Commission v Lisrestal, cited above, requires that the addressees of decisions which significantly affect their interests should be placed in a position in which they may effectively make known their views.