Brussels, 05/11/2003 (Agence Europe) - The 'CB' Bank Cards Group, which represents around 160 French and other foreign credit institutions, has appealed to the European court of Justice in Luxembourg against the European Commission. It is calling for a ruling against the Commission's decision last May to send inspectors into its offices where it took away way all the elements pertaining to the case, as well as other elements brought to the Commission's attention during the inspection. The Commission began an investigation into CB's price practices and ordered inspections in several banking establishments in France as well as at CB itself. The investigation focuses on new tariffs for new financial institutions that are part of the CB group- credit card promoters - which are supposed to pay off by the end of the year, the EUR 15 per card issued on 1 January with deductions made for certain costs. Some of these institutions, Internet banks and retail and distribution companies complained to the Commission about this restriction, which creates financial difficulties for them and compels them to pass on the costs to their customers. According to these institutions, this decision discriminates and could be used to protect the established banks with which they compete. The CB considers that the Commission had breached its obligations to justify its decision. CB claims that, "the Commission failed to state the presumptions it wished to verify, the applicant found itself unable to grasp the scope of its duty of cooperation while at the same time preserving its defence rights" (OJ C251 18 October 2003). CB added that modification of its tariffs was correctly notified to the Commission.