Judgment_paragraph 94 · European Commission v Versalis SpA and Eni SpA and Versalis SpA and Eni SpA v European Commission (C-93/13 P, C-123/13 P)

94In all proceedings in which penalties, especially fines or penalty payments, may be imposed, observance of the rights of the defence is a fundamental principle of EU law which must be fully complied with even if the proceedings in question are administrative proceedings (judgments in Hoffmann-La Roche v Commission, 85/76, EU:C:1979:36, paragraph 9; ARBED v Commission, C‑176/99 P, EU:C:2003:524, paragraph 19; and Papierfabrik August Koehler and Others v Commission, EU:C:2009:500, paragraph 34).