Judgment_paragraph 49 · Appeals – Actions for damages – Second paragraph of Article 340 TFEU – Excessive length of the proceedings in a case before the General Court of the European Union – Compensation for the damage allegedly sustained by the applicant – Concept of a ‘single undertaking’ not applied – Material damage – Bank guarantee costs – Causal link – Loss of profit – Non-pecuniary damage – Liability of the European Union for damage caused by infringements of EU law arising from a decision of the General Court – No incurring of liability (C-447/17 P, C-479/17 P)

49According to settled case-law, the action for damages under the second paragraph of Article 340 TFEU was introduced as an autonomous form of action, with a particular purpose to fulfil within the system of actions and subject to conditions on its use dictated by its specific purpose, and hence a declaration of inadmissibility of the application for annulment does not automatically render the action for damages inadmissible (order of 21 June 1993, Van Parijs and Others v Council and Commission, C‑257/93, EU:C:1993:249, paragraph 14 and the case-law cited).