European Business Law, the fourth volume in our series, shows how the European authorities simultaneously abolish all restrictions on access to and exercise of economic activities and support the growth of domestic markets, through the harmonization the internal legislation or the enactment of genuinely unified regulations.

European Business Law

Precedence of European law over national rules is absolute and unconditional, regardless of their nature . Nationals, either individuals or undertakings, have the possibility to challenge on this basis any national provision - legislative, administrative or judicial measure - which might impair the effectiveness of European law . European rules fully apply without the Member States being able to c …

National rules

Precedence of European law over national rules is absolute and unconditional, regardless of their nature . Nationals, either individuals or undertakings, have the possibility to challenge on this basis any national provision - legislative, administrative or judicial measure - which might impair the effectiveness of European law . European rules fully apply without the Member States being able to claim any obstacles, including of a constitutional nature . Thus, a State cannot rely on its system of division of powers between central, local and regional authorities to release itself from implementing a directive . 

The binding force of European law cannot vary from one Member State to another in deference to subsequent domestic laws. Thus, national courts must set aside national legislative provisions conflicting with European law, whether prior or subsequent to the European rule , even if they are matters of public policy order relied upon under public security . A breach of European law may only be ended through binding domestic provisions having the same legal force as the provisions to be modified . Mere administrative practices, which by their nature are alterable at will by the authorities and are not given the appropriate publicity, do not constitute the proper fulfillment of obligations under the Treaty remedying to the incompatibility of a national legislation with European law . 

The principle of precedence of European law allows the national court to exclude the application not only of general and abstract rules, but also of individual and concrete administrative decisions which conflict with European law . This is the case for an administrative measure  or an individual administrative decision . 

Case 6/64 Costa v E.N.E.L. [1964] ECR 1194, LawLex200500005402JBJ.

Case 106/77, Amministrazione delle finanze dello Stato v Simmenthal [1978] ECR 629, LawLex200700001337JBJ.

Case C-224/97 Ciola [1999] ECR I-2517, LawLex200900000657JBJ.

Case 48/71 Commission v Italy [1972] ECR 529, LawLex200900001955JBJ; Case 11/70 Internationale Handelsgesellschaft mbH v Einfuhr- und Vorratsstelle für Getreide und Futtermittel [1970] ECR 1125, LawLex200900001469JBJ.

Case 227/85 Commission v Belgium [1988] ECR 1, LawLex200900001687JBJ; Case 380/87 Enichem Base and others v Comune di Cinisello Balsamo [1989] ECR 2491, LawLex200900002339JBJ: The requirement imposed on Member States by a directive to inform the Commission of any draft regulation extends to draft regulations drawn up by all authorities in the Member States, including decentralized authorities such as municipalities.

Case 6/64 Costa v E.N.E.L. [1964] ECR 1194, LawLex200500005402JBJ; Case 106/77, Amministrazione delle finanze dello Stato v Simmenthal [1978] ECR 629, LawLex200700001337JBJ.

Case C-369/96 Arblade [1999] ECR I-8453, LawLex200700001903JBJ; Case C-285/98 Kreil [2000] ECR I-69, LawLex200700001621JBJ.

Case 145/99 Commission v Italy [2002] ECR I-2235, LawLex200900000574JBJ: specifying that the fact that the provisions of a decree-law which are incompatible with EU law are repealed is not contrary to the requirements relating to legal certainty, where it automatically results from the principle that subsequent legislation overrides prior legislation; Case C-358/98 Commission v Italy [2000] ECR I-1255, LawLex200700001631JBJ.

Case 145/99 Commission v Italy [2002] ECR I-2235, LawLex200900000574JBJ.

Case 158/80 Rewe v Hauptzollamt Kiel [1981] ECR 1805, LawLex200900002164JBJ.

European Business Law

163. National rules

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Les décisions de justice citées dans ce paragraphe :

Les notions juridiques connexes

163. National rules

Demandez un accès gratuit au contenu exclusif Livv – juristes d’entreprise

Les décisions de justice citées dans ce paragraphe :

Les notions juridiques connexes

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au contenu exclusif Livv – juristes d’entreprise