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

The principle of compatible interpretation requires national courts, in applying provisions of a law specially introduced in order to implement a directive, to interpret the national rule in the light of the wording and purpose of the European provision . Established for the first time regarding directives, the duty of compatible interpretation also concerns the Treaty  and the regulations . It ap …

Duty to interpret the directive in conformity with EU law

The principle of compatible interpretation requires national courts, in applying provisions of a law specially introduced in order to implement a directive, to interpret the national rule in the light of the wording and purpose of the European provision . Established for the first time regarding directives, the duty of compatible interpretation also concerns the Treaty  and the regulations . It applies both to the substantial rules and transitional provisions of national law  whether adopted before or after the European rule . 

Although the provisions of a directive are not directly applicable, the court may give an interpretation of its national law which is compatible with the purpose of the European rule . Thus, the lack of horizontal effect of the directive does not prevent the national court which - when hearing a case between individuals - applies the national provisions adopted for the purpose of transposing obligations laid down by a directive, from considering the whole body of rules of national law and from interpreting it, so far as possible, in the light of the wording and purpose of the directive in order to achieve an outcome consistent with the objective pursued by that directive . Likewise, the national court may examine of its own motion whether a national rule is in conformity with the precise and unconditional provisions of a directive, whose implementation period has lapsed, even if the individual has not relied on those provisions himself . The national court must determine, taking the whole body of domestic law into consideration and applying the interpretative methods recognized by domestic law, whether it can find an interpretation of its rules consistent with a directive with which they have been held conflicting .

Where the national law is incapable of being in conformity with European law to such an extent than a compliant interpretation is impossible, the persons concerned may, in accordance with the appropriate national procedures, claim compensation for damage suffered as a result of the failure to transpose the directive within the prescribed time-limit .

In all events, the interpretation of the national law in the light of European law cannot have the effect of determining or aggravating the liability in criminal law of persons who act in contravention of the national law .

Case 14/83 Von Colson and Kamann v Land Nordrhein-Westfalen [1984] ECR 1891, LawLex200900001548JBJ; and Case 79/83 Harz v Deutsche Tradax [1984] ECR 1921, LawLex200900002201JBJ; more particularly, in applying the provisions of a law specifically introduced in order to implement a directive, the national court is required to interpret those provisions in the light of the wording and purpose of the directive in order to give it its full effect, Case 222/84 Johnston v Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary [1986] ECR 1651, LawLex200900001683JBJ; Case C-131/97 Carbonari and others [1999] ECR I-1103, LawLex200700001793JBJ.

Case 157/86 Murphy v An Bord Telecom Eireann [1988] ECR 673, LawLex200900001579JBJ.

Case 80/86 Kolpinghuis Nijmegen [1987] ECR 3969, LawLex200900002308JBJ; C-168/95 Arcaro [1996] ECR I-4705, LawLex200900000691JBJ; C-74/95 X [1996] ECR I-6609, LawLex200900000496JBJ; C-60/02 X [2004] ECR I-651, LawLex200900001080JBJ.

Case C-60/02 X [2004] ECR I-651, LawLex200900001080JBJ.

Case C-63/97 BMW [1999] ECR I-905, LawLex200700001824JBJ.

Case C-76/97 Tögel v Niederösterreichische Gebietskrankenkasse [1998] ECR I-5357, LawLex200900001171JBJ.

Case C-472/93 Spano v Fiat Geotech and Fiat Hitachi Excavators [1995] ECR I-4321, LawLex200900000969JBJ; See before Case C-106/89 Marleasing v Comercial Internacional de Alimentación [1990] ECR I-4135, LawLex200900000333JBJ: the nullity of a public limited company may be ordered on grounds other than those exhaustively listed in Article 11 of Directive No 68/151; as regards disputes between professionals and consumers, C-240/98 Océano Grupo Editorial and Salvat Editores [2000] ECR I-4941, LawLex200700001615JBJ; C-456/98 Centrosteel [2000] ECR I-6007, LawLex200900000903JBJ; C-343/98 Collino and Chiappero [2000] ECR I-6659, LawLex200700001628JBJ.

Case C-397/01 Pfeiffer and others [2004] ECR I-8835, LawLex200900000668JBJ.

Case C-87/90 Verholen and others v Sociale Verzekeringsbank Amsterdam [1991] ECR I-3757, LawLex200900001201JBJ.

Case C-282/10 Dominguez, Judgment of 24 January 2012, LawLex201200000695JBJ.

Case C-334/92 Wagner Miret v Fondo de garantía salarial [1993] ECR I-6911, LawLex200900000341JBJ; C-54/96 Dorsch Consult Ingenieursgesellschaft v Bundesbaugesellschaft Berlin [1997] ECR I-4961, LawLex200900000982JBJ; C-111/97 EvoBus Austria v Niederösterreichische Verkehrsorganization [1998] ECR I-5411, LawLex200900000374JBJ.

European Business Law

184. Duty to interpret the directive in conformity with EU law

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184. Duty to interpret the directive in conformity with EU law

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Les décisions de justice citées dans ce paragraphe :

Les notions juridiques connexes

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