20In this connection, it is to be recalled that the authority of a judgment, entailing the inadmissibility of an action if the proceedings are between the same parties and have the same purpose and the same legal basis as the action previously disposed of, presents an absolute bar to proceedings (see, to this effect, Case T-164/01 Lucaccioni v Commission [2003] ECR-SC I-A-67 and II-367, paragraph 28 and case-law cited) and, therefore, this plea of inadmissibility may, indeed must, be examined by the court of its own motion. According to settled case-law, the principle of res judicata extends only to the matters of fact and law actually or necessarily settled by the judicial decision in question (Joined Cases C-238/99 P, C-244/99 P, C-245/99 P, C-247/99 P, C-250/99 P to C-252/99 P and C-254/99 P Limburgse Vinyl Maatschappij and Others v Commission [2002] I-8375, paragraph 44, and Case C-462/05 Commission v Portugal [2008] ECR I-4183, paragraph 23 and case-law cited).
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