83As regards, in the third place, the absence of prior notice and the lack of any opportunity for the company concerned to make known its views, it should be noted that, in all proceedings initiated against a person which may well culminate in a measure adversely affecting that person, respect for the rights of the defence is a fundamental principle of EU law which must be guaranteed even in the absence of any rules governing the proceedings in question. That principle requires that the addressees of decisions that significantly affect their interests be placed in a position in which they may effectively make known their views on the evidence on which the contested decision is based (Case C-28/05 Dokter and Others [2006] ECR I-5431, paragraph 74 and the case-law cited).
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