Article 70a - Conferral of implementing powers regarding maximum rates for costs

The Commission shall adopt implementing acts specifying the maximum rates for costs essential to the proceedings and actually incurred by the successful party as referred to in Article 70(1). Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 109(2). 

When specifying the maximum rates with respect to travel and subsistence costs, the Commission shall take into account the distance between the place of residence or business of the party, representative, witness or expert and the place where the oral proceedings are held, the procedural stage at which the costs have been incurred, and, as far as costs of representation within the meaning of to Article 78(1) are concerned, the need to ensure that the obligation to bear the costs cannot be misused for tactical reasons by the other party. In addition, subsistence expenses shall be calculated in accordance with the Staff Regulations of Officials of the Union and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the Union, laid down in Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom, ECSC) No 259/68 (*). The losing party shall bear the costs for one party in the proceedings only and, where applicable, one representative only.