EU cases Flashcards
Costa v ENEL
EU law takes priority over national law (the doctrine of supremacy); EU law is a special kind of international law
Internationale Handelsgesellschaft (Solange I)
EU law takes priority over national constitutional law (Germany resisted this ruling); fundamental rights form an integral part of the general principles of EU law - EU law which breaches such rights will be reviewed
Simmenthal
EU law must be applied in its entirety; existing incompatible national law is automatically inapplicable and the creation of new incompatible national law is prohibited
R (Miller) v Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union
EU law only takes primacy over national law in the UK as a result of the 1972 Act (retaining sovereignty); some fundamental rights will be retained post-Brexit and others will be lost (though may be replicated)
Re Wünsche Handelsgesellschaft (Solange II)
Germany softened its position - so long as the EU protects fundamental rights to the same extent as the German constitution, the German courts will not place constitutional law above EU law
Brunner v European Union Treaty
The German court maintained its ability to determine the compatibility of EU law and German constitutional law; Germany’s acceptance of supremacy is conditional
B v E (The Lisbon Case)
The ‘identity lock’ makes EU law reviewable in light of basic law; EU law may not prevail in certain areas e.g. war, religion; EU law may not restrict a state’s ability ‘to democratically shape itself’
Honeywell
Incompatible national law is in principle invalid to ensure uniform effectiveness of EU law, but the primacy of EU law cannot be comprehensive
Czech pension case
The only case to refuse to apply EU law over national law
Van Gend en Loos
The EC is a ‘new legal order’, for the benefit of which member states limit their sovereignty; EU Articles can be relied upon by individuals in national courts
Defrenne v SABENA
Articles which are sufficiently clear, precise and unconditional have horizontal direct effect; prospective effect (reconcilable with legal principle?); occasionally the ECJ draws from international instruments other than the ECHR e.g. the European Social Charter
Van Duyn v Home Office
In order for directives to have vertical direct effect they must be sufficiently clear, precise and unconditional
Ratti
For a directive to have direct effect the implementation period must have passed
Inter-Environment Wallonie
During a directive’s implementation period member states must refrain from enacting provisions conflicting with the attainment of the aim of that directive
Marshall v Southampton and SW Hampshire Health Authority
Individuals can rely on Directives in national courts against the state or an emanation of the state (e.g. a hospital) but not private individuals
Faccini Dori
Directives do not have horizontal direct effect
Foster v British Gas
An emanation of the state
(1) is made responsible by the state
(2) provides a public service under the control of the state, and
(3) has for that purpose special powers
Farrell
One of the three Foster conditions will suffice for an emanation of the state (did not explicitly overrule Foster)
Becker v Finanzamt Munster-Innenstadt
The direct effect of directives comes into force once the time limit for implementation is up; a tax authority is an emanation of the state
Fratelli Costanzo v Milano
Local authorities are an emanation of the state
Johnston v Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary
Police are an emanation of the state
Mangold v Helm
Non-discrimination is a general principle of EU law which may be relied upon by individuals against individuals
Von Colson
National law should be interpreted in line with the wording and purpose of EU law, which does not have to be clear/precise/unconditional; there must be an effective remedy following state liability
Harz v Deutsche Tradax
EU law has horizontal indirect effect
Marleasing SA v La Comercial
Indirect effect requires courts to interpret all national law in line with EU law - not just law implementing the directive, and including law predating the directive and law with no specific connection to the directive
Wagner Miret v Fondo de Garantira Salaria
If national law completely contradicts EU law so that they cant be interpreted as compatible, indirect effect will not operate
Luciano Arcaro
You cant apply indirect effect where doing so will give rise to criminal liability
Kolpinghuis Nijimegen
While indirect effect cannot give rise to criminal liability, it can give rise to other negative consequences; interpretation by indirect effect must be compatible with general principles
Kucukdeveci
General principles of EU law require the interpretation of national law where the case falls in the scope of EU law; confirms Mangold
Romer
There is a general principle of EU law of non-discrimination, including based on sexual orientation
Digital Rights Ireland v Minister for Communications
The Charter of Fundamental Rights has vertical direct effect; any breach of the Charter must be provided for by law, respect its essence, be proportional and necessary, and genuinely meet objectives of general interest
AMS case
Principles within the Charter of Fundamental Rights which are not specific enough cannot be employed by individuals; potential for horizontal direct effect if more specific (not directly addressed, need more case law)
Antonio Munoz Cia SA v Frumar Ltd
Regulations have direct effect
Amsterdam Bulb
A national measure will only breach EU law if it alters, obstructs, or obscures the direct effect of a regulation
Grad v Finanzamt Traunstein
Sufficiently clear, precise and unconditional decisions have direct effect according to the principle of effectiveness
Carp
A decision addressed to member states does not have horizontal direct effect (must be addressed to individuals)
Kortas
Even directives which member states may derogate from under the EC have direct effect
Delena Wells v SoS for Transport
Vertical direct effect is not precluded where it will have adverse consequences for third parties (though it is if it imposes legal obligations)
Adeneler
Indirect effect only applies once the implementation period has expired, though member states must not interpret national law in a way that compromises the aims of the EU law
Pfeiffer v Deutsches Rotes Kreuz
For indirect effect national courts must interpret all law, not just the law implementing the directive, in line with EU law