EU Law Flashcards

1
Q

FMOG Aims

A
  • Creating trading and production bloc
  • Bulwark against US, Japan, BRISC economies
  • create large internal market where goods are distributed before need to export
  • common market where goods can circulate freely without customs duties or financial restriction
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Prohibition of tariff/non-tariff barriers

A

–> once good enters a MS, it must be permitted to circulate freely within the common market

Tariff: customs duties, charges having equivalent effect, internal taxation
Non-tariff: quantitative restrictions, measures having equivalent effect

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Customs duties

A

Directly applied duties to import/export because they crossed a national border –> caught by prohibition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Charges having equivalent effect

A

Impermissible:

  • Imposed at import or subsequently
  • impsoed specifically on goods imported from MS, but not on similar domestic good
  • results in price alteration
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Charges for provision of genuine service (inspection costs)

A

Permissible if:

  • consideration of actual service, not exceeding actual costs of inspection
  • mandatory, uniform, applied to all products
  • inspection in interest of the union
  • inspection promotion FMOG

NOT: charges which are not actually for a service provided

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Internal taxation

A

No measure having equivalent effect if not discriminatory

Criteria:

  • must be applied equally to foreign and domestic goods
  • applied at the same marketing stage
  • chargeable event giving rise to duty must be the same
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Measures

A

Legally binding acts (national laws)
Practices influencing conducts of traders and consumers
State inaction
Administrative practices

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Quantitative restriction

A
  • restricts import/export of good by amount or value

- makes improt/export subject to condition of obtaining import license

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Measures having equivalent effect

A

Measure that make import/export unnecessarily difficult and discriminate between foreign and domestic goods

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Derogation from FMOG

A
Public policy
Public morality
Public security
Protection of Health or Life of Humans or animals
Artistic, historic heritage
Protection fo commercial property
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Cassis de Dijon - Rule of Reason

A

Measures indistinctly applicable only infringe if restrictive effect exceed the effects necessary for the trading rule

Criteria:

  • no EU system covering interest in question
  • indistinctly applicable
  • no arbitrage discrimination or disguised restriciton
  • must be proportionate
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Keck and Mithouard - Selling agreements

A

Selling agreements applying to domestic and foreign products equally and intended to regulate market in a non-discriminatory way are permissible (e.g.: Sunday trading restrictions)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

FMOP

A

Includes: self-employed, workers, freedom of establishment and service, union citizenship, TCN

  • -> General prohibition of discrimination (directly and indirectly)
  • -> cross border element is needed
  • -> must be national of a member state
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Workers

A

Uniform definition: any employed person, regardless of salaried or waged, blue or white collar, executive or unskilled
Also: part time, frontier workers, work seeking, in education after previous employment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Establishment/service

A

Right to enter MS and stay on longterm or permanent basis, pursue self-employment and set up and manage undertaking

Service: temporary state of affairs and appearance in host state
Establishment: permanent presence in host state

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Material scope

A

Right of entry, residence, exit
Temporary involuntary unemployment doesn’t remove employment status
Rights apply to workers family too
Right to remain after retirement or incapacity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Self-employed

A

Basic rules of treaty subject to national rules

Mutual recognition of professional qualifications: once obtained in one MS, should be recognised in other MS too

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Derogation from FMOP

A

Public policy (must be a threat to fundamental interests of society)
Public security
Public health
Public service

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Union citizenship

A

Person holding nationality of MS shall be citizen of the Union (shall have the right to move and reside freely within the Union)

20
Q

FMOC

A

Aimed at abolishing restrictions on movement of capital and payments between MS
–> Any measure liable to dissuade residents from obtaining loans or making investments in other MS is caught by prohibition

Exceptions: taxation, public policy and security –> no arbitrage discrimination or disguised restriction

21
Q

European Commission

A

27 commissioners, President proposed by European Council (QMV) and approved by EP (SMV)
President elects commissioners –> en bloc approval of EP

Sole right to propose legal initiative
Guardian of communities: ensure compliance with treaties and other legislation, prosecute breaches
Annual budget of EU
External representation of EU
Development of general policy strategies
22
Q

Council of Ministers

A

Each member state holds presidency on 6 month rotating basis
Members: government ministers of MS according to policy ares
Can meet in 10 different configuartions

Main law making body (powers decreased, now together with EP)
coordination of policies
conclusion of international agreements

23
Q

Decision making

A

Unanimity: agreement by all MS (veto of MS)
SMV: arithmetic majority of MS
QMV: Double majority rule - must comprise at least 55% of council members and at least 65% of EU population

24
Q

European council

A

Members: heads of government of MS, commission presidents, high representative

Decision on general political direction and priorities (unanimity, QMV)
No legislative functions

25
Q

European Parliament

A

Members elected directly every 5 years (approx. according to MS population)
Central law making body (with council of ministers)

Legislative powers: co-decision procedure (ordinary legislative procedure), power of consent
Supervisory: power to elect commission president, censure commission
Right to litigate: can bring actions against other EU institutions

26
Q

Court of Justice

A

1 judge per MS; 11 advocates general
Indirect actions: Preliminary ruling procedure - question about validity and interpretations of acts of the Union
Direct actions: actions against EU institutions concerning refi of legally binding acts, actions against MS concerning compliance and conformity with EU law

27
Q

General Court

A

1 judge per MS
Annulment actions brought by natural persons
Hear appeals from specialised courts that may be appealed further to COJ

28
Q

EU law main categories

A

Institutional: structure and constitution of the Union
Procedural: judicial review and control within the Union
Substantive: setting policy areas of the Union, affects individuals

29
Q

Primary, Secondary, Case Law

A
  1. Primary: Treaties TFEU and TEU (Directly applicable: no need for implementation, automatically valid)
  2. Secondary: Regulations, Directives, Decisions
  3. Case law: interpretations of primary/secondary law –>
30
Q

Law making principles

A

Identify legal basis: determines procedure, involvement and powers of institutions
If two legal bases, choose the one giving more power to EP
Procedures always star with commission and involve Council and EP

  • Ordinary legislative procedure
  • Special legislative procedure: procedures differing in one or more aspects from ordinary
  • Consent legislative procedure: council must obtain consent from EP
31
Q

Direct effect

A

Individuals can directly rely on provisions of EU law and enforce their rights before a national court

Criteria - provision must be:

  • clear and precise
  • unconditional
  • not require measures to be taken by MS or EU institutions
  • not leave discretion to MS or EU institutions

Horizontal: invoked against authority of state
Vertical: invoked against individuals/private companies

32
Q

Direct effect - treaties, regulations, directives

A

Treaties: satisfy criteria for direct effect, vertical and horizontal (Case Deference v Sabena)
Regulations: directly applicable, not necessarily directly effective (must fulfil criteria - vertical and horizontal)
Directives: if certain provisions fulfil criteria, can be directly affective (only from deadline of their implementation), only vertical

33
Q

Overcoming lack of horizontal effect

A
  • relying on general principles
  • extending definition of “public sector”
  • Indirect effects: national courts required to interpret national laws in line with provisions of EU law
34
Q

Frankovich - State liability

A

allows individuals to file action against a MS, where the latter has failed to comply with EU law resulting in damages/losses to the individual

  • liabiltiy ma arise form any acts or omissions
  • liabiltiy extended to disputed between private parties (loss caused by EU law breach of one)
35
Q

Preliminary ruling procedure

A

National court or tribunals have a right to refer to the CoJ for (uniform) interpretation and application of EU Law

  • Court or tribunal can refer to it
  • Court of last instance (e.g.: Supreme Court) must refer to it
  1. Question must relate to EU law, about interpretation of primary or interpretation/validity of secondary law
  2. can refer at any stage of proceedings
  3. reference not necessary if there is a previous ruling on the point or obvious answer
36
Q

Direct jurisdiction of CoJ

A

Actions against Member states: commission can bring direct action against Member state for infringement
actions by one MS against another: MS may bring matter before CoJ
annulment actions: aim to annul acts of the Union (CoJ reviews validity of acts)
actions for failure to act: against EU institutions

37
Q

Art 101 TFEU

A

Prohibited:

  • Agreements between undertakings: at least 2 or more parties; written/oral/tactic tactic agreement with objective prohibited by provision
  • Decisions by associations of undertakings: acting on behalf of member companies
  • Concerted practices: more discreet form of behaviour by 2 or more companies having the same results (e.g.: parallel behaviour) –> detailed assessment
  • object or effect: even if not effective, can fall foul
  • preventing, restricting, distorting competition: not all clauses in agreement have this effect –> assessment
  • in particular those: not an exhaustive list
38
Q

Exemptions Art 101 (3) TFEU

A

Directly effective

Agreement/decision/practice must fulfil all criteria:

  • improving production/distribution or promoting technical/economic progress
  • benefit for consumers
  • no restriction imposed, unless indispensable
  • no elimination of competition

–> cumulative and exhaustive

39
Q

Other exemptions

A

De minimis rule: agreements of minor importance that don’t considerably influence competition
Block-exemption regulations: certain agreements can fall under those regulations, meaning they are automatically valid according to Art 101 (3) without the need to evoke it

40
Q

Art 102 TFEU

A

Prohibition of any abuse of a dominant position within the internal market

Dominance –> finding case to case

  1. define relevant product market: narrow or broad
  2. define relevant geographic market: small or large
  3. define relative strength: market share of the relevant market

Abuse –> no infringement without abuse
E.g.: predatory pricing, excessive pricing, discriminatory pricing, limiting production …

41
Q

Merger Regulation - Concentration

A

–> looks at whether there is a change in control on lasting basis

  • Mergers of two or more independent undertakings
  • Acquisitions: one undertaking already in control of another acquires another undertaking
  • Joint ventures (entities remain independent): if it performs all functions of autonomous economic identity
42
Q

Turnover thresholds

A

–> if exceeded: Union dimension, rules of merger regulation apply

Aggregate worldwide turnover of all undertakings > 5000mio AND
Aggregate union turnover of at least two undertakings > 250mio each
- UNLESS 2/3 achieved in one member state –> national competition authorities

43
Q

Substantive test

A

–> Combines previous dominance test and SIEC test

  • Mergers may harm competition by creating or entrenching single firm power or a tight oligopoly
  • Mergers of competitors most likely harm competition
  • Merges between leading firm and most important potential competitors can have unilateral effect
  • Vertical mergers may lessen competition
44
Q

Countervailing efficiencies & “failing firm defence”

A
  • Concentrations may have positive effects (e.g.: mergers can create synergies)
  • Merger saving a “failing firm” should not be blocked: if it were not for merger, market would be more concentrated
45
Q

Private enforcement

A

private individuals can enforce EU competition rules and claim damages for compensation (complementary to public enforcement by commission)

–> Damages Directive

46
Q

Damages Directive

A

Scope:

  • infringement Art 101, 102 TFEU
  • only for damages, natural and legal persons

Compensation
- full compensation (loss of profit) not overcompensation (punitive damages..)

Passing-on defence
- defendant can e.g.: try to proof that claimant passed on the overcharge from the infringement

Joint liabilitiy
- undertakings having infringed through joint behaviour shall be joy and severally liable