109It must be added that, in any event, a breach of the principle that action must be taken within a reasonable time would justify the annulment of a decision taken following an administrative proceeding in competition matters only in so far as it also constituted an infringement of the rights of defence of the undertakings concerned. Where it has not been established that the undue delay has adversely affected the ability of the undertakings concerned to defend themselves effectively, failure to comply with the principle that action must be taken within a reasonable time cannot affect the validity of the administrative procedure (see, to that effect, judgment of the General Court in PVC II, paragraph 25 above, paragraph 122).
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