Le prix de tout produit, destiné à la vente au détail et exposé à la vue du public, doit pouvoir être connu du client sans qu'il ait besoin d'entrer dans le magasin, dès lors que le produit est visible de l'extérieur.

CA Bourges, 2e ch., 22 août 1991, n° 91-456

CA Grenoble, ch. des urgences, 21 août 1991, n° 91-822

A derogation to the duty to suspend the operation can be granted when its immediate implementation is necessary to avoid the demise of one of the concerned undertakings.

EC, August 20, 1991, No M.116

Une dérogation à l'obligation de suspendre l'opération de concentration peut être accordée lorsque sa mise en uvre immédiate est nécessaire afin d'éviter la mise en liquidation de l'une des entreprises concernées.

CCE, 20 août 1991, n° M.116

The nature of products processed and/or derived of the products benefiting from State aid compared to a seemingly competitive product at EU level, accounts for the fact that a conditional decision was given.

The derogations from the principle of prohibition of State aid laid down in Article 107(3) TFEU should be assessed within an EU context, and not merely in the context of the Member State involved.

The derogations from the principle of prohibition of State aid laid down in Article 107(3) TFEU should be interpreted restrictively and can only be applied if the free play of market forces would not be sufficient to persuade the beneficiary to act in order to achieve one of the desired objectives.

EC, August 16, 1991, No 91-474

Les dérogations au principe d'interdiction des aides d'État énoncées à l'article 107, paragraphe 3, TFUE doivent être interprétées restrictivement et ne peuvent être appliquées que si le seul jeu des forces du marché n'inciterait pas le bénéficiaire de l'aide à adapter la stratégie en cause.

Les dérogations au principe d'interdiction des aides d'État, prévues à l'article 107, paragraphe 3, TFUE, doivent être appréciées dans le contexte européen, et pas seulement dans celui du seul État membre concerné.

La nature de produits dérivés et/ou transformés des produits bénéficiaires de l'aide d'État par rapport à un produit concurrentiellement sensible au niveau européen, justifie le prononcé d'une décision conditionnelle.

Aides accordées par le gouvernement italien à la société Italgrani pour la réalisation d'un complexe agro-alimentaire dans le Mezzgiorno.

CCE, 16 août 1991, n° 91-474

The substantial differences between the structure of demand - end retailers, wholesalers and purchasing centers - constitute criteria used to identify the replacement markets for starter batteries as national markets.

The replacement and starter battery markets are national in dimension insofar as consumer preferences in terms of brands vary from one Member State to another.

The replacement and starter battery markets are national in dimension given the substantial differences in the spread and importance of the different distribution channels - automobile manufacturers, independent dealers, department stores and supermarkets.

The original equipment market for starter batteries, which includes already-charged batteries, requires a product that is 100% reliable, and that  meets the specific requirements imposed by each manufacturer, generally associated with the research and development phase, and should be distinguished from the replacement market, which includes dry batteries delivered to a number of distributors and adapted to standard norms, without review by motor vehicle manufacturers.

The original equipment market for starter batteries must be distinguished from the replacement market, even though they constitute complementary products.

The original equipment market for starter batteries that covers demand from the automobile industry, involving a small number of customers demanding "just-in-time" delivery must be distinguished from the replacement market, which, due to the diversity of clientele, requires a distribution network.

The differences in the product ranges between the Member States related to the specific nature of the stock of cars existing in a country is an indicator of the national dimension of the replacement and starter battery markets.

The replacement and starter battery markets are national in dimension given, notably, the differences in battery product ranges from one Member State to another, due to the difference in stocks of cars in the Member States.

A merger that confers a market share of 44 % onto the new entity, 25 % more than that of the nearest competitor, is anticompetitive.

Commitments entered into by the parties, in particular to rescind licence agreements, in order to substantially increase potential competition, may be enough to make compatible with the internal market an operation judged anticompetitive due, in particular, to the significance of the new entity's market share (44%) and its the disproportion with regard to that of its competitors.

A merger may be judged anticompetitive due, in particular, to the size of the new entity's market share (44%) with regard to that of its competitors.

EC, July 31, 1991, No M.012

Une concentration qui confère à la nouvelle entité une part de marché de 44 %, supérieure de 25 % à celle de son concurrent immédiat, est anticoncurrentielle.

Une opération de concentration peut être jugée anticoncurrentielle du fait de l'importance de la part de marché de la nouvelle entité (44 %) au regard de la taille de ses concurrents.

Le marché de la première monte des batteries de démarrage se distingue de celui du renouvellement, bien qu'il s'agisse de produits complémentaires.

Le marché de la première monte des batteries de démarrage, qui couvre la demande de l'industrie automobile et se caractérise par la livraison "juste à temps" à un petit nombre de clients, doit être distingué de celui du renouvellement qui se caractérise par la multiplicité des distributeurs et qui nécessite, en raison de la diversité de la clientèle, un réseau de distribution.

Les engagements pris par les parties de dénoncer des accords de licence, afin d'accroître notablement la compétitivité potentielle, peuvent suffire à rendre compatible avec le marché intérieur une opération jugée anticoncurrentielle en raison notamment de l'importance de la part de marché de la nouvelle entité (44 %) et de la disproportion de la taille de ses concurrents.

Le marché de la première monte des batteries de démarrage, qui porte sur des batteries humides, devant être fiables à 100 % et répondre aux spécifications imposées par chaque constructeur et est associé à la phase de la recherche et du développement, doit être distingué du marché du renouvellement, qui concerne des batteries sèches, livrées à une multitude de distributeurs et adaptées aux normes courantes, sans contrôle de la part du constructeur automobile.

Les divergences notables dans la structure de la demande - revendeurs finals, grossistes et centrales d'achat - constituent des critères d'identification de la dimension nationale des marchés de renouvellement de batteries de démarrage.

Les marchés de renouvellement de batteries de démarrage revêtent une dimension nationale dans la mesure, notamment, où les marques préférées des acheteurs varient selon les pays.

La disparité des gammes de produits dans les différents Etats membres liée aux spécificités du parc automobile existant dans un pays, constitue un indice de la dimension nationale des marchés de renouvellement de batteries de démarrage.

La dimension nationale des marchés de renouvellement de batteries de démarrage résulte, notamment, de la disparité des gammes de produits dans les différents Etats membres liée aux spécificités du parc automobile.

Les divergences notables dans la répartition et l'importance des différents circuits de distribution - constructeurs automobiles, vendeurs indépendants, grandes surfaces et supermarchés - constituent des critères d'identification de la dimension nationale des marchés de renouvellement de batteries de démarrage.

CCE, 31 juillet 1991, n° M.012

Agreements between airlines united within an association, the purpose of which is the collective application of an identical freight transport service distribution scheme, the size of which leaves little room for other forms of distribution, contribute to promote economic progress in so far as they create a central management for a far-reaching distribution network of agents which the airlines would not be able to create individually.

Agreements between airlines, whose purpose is the collective application of an identical freight air transport service distribution scheme, does not cause the elimination of competition, having regard to the existing competing systems, or those liable to develop.

Agreements between airlines, whose purpose is the collective application of an identical freight air transport service distribution scheme, do not cause the elimination of competition when the airlines freely determine their agents' remuneration.

EC, July 30, 1991, No 91-481

Reduction of management costs stemming from agreements between airlines united within an association the purpose of which is the collective implementation of an identical passenger transport service distribution scheme, contributes to promote economic progress.

Agreements between airlines the purpose of which is the collective application of an identical passenger air transport service distribution scheme do not cause the elimination of competition, having regard to the existing competing systems, or those liable to develop.

Agreements between airlines united within an association the purpose of which is the collective implementation of an identical passenger transport service distribution scheme the size of which leaves little room for other forms of distribution, improves economic progress in so far as they create a central management of a far-reaching distribution network of agents that the airlines would not be able to create individually.

The implementation of an identical traffic document distribution system by airlines grouped in an association is indispensable for preserving the bank settlement plans of small Member States and for the decrease of costs per ticket.

Agreements between airlines whose object is the collective implementation of an identical passenger air transport service distribution scheme do not cause the elimination of competition, when the parties freely determine their agents' remuneration.

Agreements between airlines grouped within an association of which the purpose is the collective application of an identical cargo transport distribution system, restricts competition by leaving little room for other forms of distribution adopted individually by member companies and by involving a rather rigid sales structure.

EC, July 30, 1991, No 91-480

Les accords entre compagnies aériennes réunies au sein d'une association ayant pour objet l'application collective d'un système de distribution identique de leurs services de transport de fret laissant par leur ampleur peu de place à d'autres formes de distribution, contribuent à la promotion du progrès économique dans la mesure notamment où ils permettent une gestion centrale d'un plus vaste réseau d'agents de distribution que les compagnies ne pourraient obtenir individuellement.

Les accords entre compagnies aériennes ayant pour objet l'application collective d'un système de distribution identique de leurs services de transport de fret aérien n'entraînent pas d'élimination de la concurrence eu égard notamment aux systèmes concurrents existants ou susceptibles de se développer.

Les accords entre compagnies aériennes ayant pour objet l'application collective d'un système de distribution identique de leurs services de transport de fret aérien n'entraînent pas d'élimination de la concurrence dès lors, notamment, que les compagnies aériennes fixent librement la rémunération de leurs agents.

CCE, 30 juillet 1991, n° 91-481

La réduction des coûts de gestion générée par les accords entre compagnies aériennes réunies au sein d'une association ayant pour objet l'application collective d'un système de distribution identique de leurs services de transport de passagers contribue à la promotion du progrès économique.

Les accords entre compagnies aériennes réunies au sein d'une association ayant pour objet l'application collective d'un système de distribution identique de leurs services de transport de passagers laissant par leur ampleur peu de place à d'autres formes de distribution permettent une gestion centrale d'un plus vaste réseau d'agents que les compagnies ne pourraient obtenir individuellement

La mise en place par des compagnies aériennes réunies au sein d'une association d'un système de distribution identique des titres de transport est indispensable pour préserver les plans de règlement bancaire des petits États membres et permettre une réduction des coûts par billet.

Les accords entre compagnies aériennes ayant pour objet l'application collective d'un système de distribution identique de leurs services de transport de passagers n'entraînent pas d'élimination de la concurrence eu égard aux systèmes concurrents existants ou susceptibles de se développer.

Les accords entre compagnies aériennes ayant pour objet l'application collective d'un système de distribution identique de leurs services de transport de passagers n'entraînent pas d'élimination de la concurrence dès lors notamment que les compagnies aériennes fixent librement la rémunération de leurs agents.

Les accords entre compagnies aériennes réunies au sein d'une association ayant pour objet l'application collective d'un système de distribution identique de leurs services de transport de fret, restreignent la concurrence en ne laissant pas de place à d'autres formes de distribution adoptées individuellement par les compagnies membres et en impliquant une structure de vente rigide.

CCE, 30 juillet 1991, n° 91-480

Un droit de veto sur les décisions, concernant les projets de fusion de l'entreprise commune, sa liquidation, la modification de son capital social ou le transfert de son siège social, ne suffit pas à conférer à son détenteur le contrôle conjoint.

Le chiffre d'affaires réalisé par le groupe qui détient indirectement l'une des parties à la concentration et qui inclut cette dernière dans ses comptes consolidés doit être retenu pour l'appréciation de la dimension européenne de l'opération.

Les sucres de canne ou de betterave appartiennent à un marché distinct des sucres de substitut qui, en répondant à une demande spécifique axée sur la perte de calories, ne leur sont substituables que dans une certaine limite à moins de modifier la nature du produit final.

Dans le secteur de la production sucrière, les sucres de canne ou de betterave appartiennent à un marché distinct des sucres de substitut, ces derniers n'étant substituables que dans une certaine limite, au-delà de laquelle leur adjonction est susceptible de modifier la nature du produit final et dès lors que certains sucres de remplacement répondent à une demande spécifique axée sur la perte de calories.

La vente de sucre granulé à l'industrie constitue un marché distinct de la vente du même produit au détail eu égard aux différences quant aux volumes livrés, à la capacité de négociation des acheteurs et au rôle des importations.

CCE, 30 juillet 1991, n° M.062

Une œuvre n'ayant pas fait l'objet d'une exploitation en salle en France, mais qui a été exploitée de manière significative dans son pays d'origine, doit être considérée comme une œuvre cinématographique.

Le montant de la sanction pécuniaire infligée à une société ayant interrompue à quatre reprises la diffusion d'une même œuvre cinématographique, est déterminé en fonction de la gravité du manquement commis et compte tenu de l'avantage financier que lui a procuré cette irrégularité.

CE, sect. du contentieux, 26 juillet 1991, n° 110945

Mere quality differences between the imported product in question and a European product are not such as to render these products unlike where they basic physical characteristics and their use are the same.

Accepting undertakings given in connection with the review of anti-dumping measures concerning imports of artificial corundum originating in the Soviet Union, Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia and the People's Republic of China and in connection with the anti- dumping proceeding concerning imports of artificial corundum originating in Brazil and Yugoslavia, and terminating the investigation

EC, July 25, 1991, No 91-512

Accepting undertakings given in connection with the review of anti-dumping measures concerning imports of artificial corundum originating in the Soviet Union, Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia and the People's Republic of China and in connection with the anti- dumping proceeding concerning imports of artificial corundum originating in Brazil and Yugoslavia, and terminating the investigation)

EC, July 25, 1991, No 512-91

Proceedings pending before a national court concerning the appointment of an arbitrator do not fall within the scope of application of the regulation, even if a preliminary issue is raised as to whether an arbitration agreement exists or is valid.

CJEC, July 25, 1991, No C-190/89

The concept of establishment within the meaning of Articles 49 TFEU et seq. involves the actual pursuit of an economic activity from a fixed establishment in another Member State for an indefinite period.

The registration of a boat must comply with the rules relating to the freedom of establishment where it is used to exercise an economic activity including a fixed establishment in the State concerned.

Legislation which makes the registration of a fishing vessel subject to a condition of nationality, of residence and of domicile for natural persons who are legal owners or beneficial owners or charterers of the vessel and, for a company, shareholders and directors, is a restriction on the freedom of establishment and cannot be justified by the power to dispense with that requirement in view of the length of time of residence and involvement in the fishing industry of that State.

CJEC, July 25, 1991, No C-221/89

Restrictions on the broadcasting of advertisements may be imposed in order to protect consumers against excessive advertising.

A cultural policy aimed at maintaining pluralism and a certain level of programme quality in the audiovisual sector may constitute an overriding reason relating to the public interest justifying a restriction on the freedom to provide services.

Rules which make the broadcasting of advertisements intended specifically for the national public from other Member States subject to compliance with certain conditions, particularly in terms of duration and broadcasting period, cannot be justified by an objective aimed at restricting competition to which the national body is exposed from foreign operators.

National legislation which makes the broadcasting of programmes containing advertisements by foreign broadcasting bodies subject to structural conditions such as the obligation to entrust advertising to a legal person independent of the suppliers of programmes, cannot be justified by a requirement to maintain a national radio and television system, by which pluralism is secured where there is no necessary connection between such a cultural policy and those conditions.

Rules which make the broadcasting of advertisements intended specifically for the national public from other Member States subject to compliance with a certain number of conditions constitute a restriction of the freedom to provide services insofar as their sole objective is to restrict the competition to which the national broadcasting body may be exposed from other operators.

Economic aims cannot constitute grounds of public policy within the meaning of Article 52 TFEU.

Obstacles which affect any person established in the national territory come within the scope of Article 56 TFEU where restrictions resulting from the application of the national legislation to foreign persons providing services are not justified by overriding reasons relating to the public interest, or where the requirements embodied in that legislation are already satisfied by the rules imposed on those persons providing services in the Member State where they are established.

National rules which are not applicable without discrimination to services as regards their origin are compatible with EU law only if they can be brought within the scope of an express exemption, such as that contained in Article 52 TFEU.

CJEC, July 25, 1991, No C-288/89

EU law precludes the competent authorities of a Member State from relying, in proceedings brought against them by an individual before the national courts to protect rights directly conferred upon him by the clear and precise provisions of a directive, on national procedural rules relating to time-limits for bringing proceedings so long as that Member State has not properly transposed those provisions into its legal system.

CJEC, July 25, 1991, No C-208/90

National legislation cannot reserve the provision of services to operators possessing certain professional qualifications in order to protect the recipients against advice given by non-qualified persons where the services are of a straightforward nature and do not call for specific professional aptitudes.

Any restriction, even if it applies without distinction to national providers of services and to those of other Member States, is contrary to Article 56 TFEU where it is liable to prohibit or otherwise impede the activities of a provider of services established in another Member State where he lawfully provides similar services.

CJEC, 6th chamber, July 25, 1991, No C-76/90

Although the Directive on the safeguarding of employees' rights in the event of transfers of undertakings does not apply to transfers made as part of a creditors' arrangement procedure of the kind provided for in the Italian legislation on compulsory administrative liquidation, which is designed to liquidate the debtor's assets in order to satisfy the body of creditors, it does apply as part of a special administration for large undertakings in critical difficulties, where it has been decided that the undertaking is to continue trading for as long as that decision remains in force.

CJEC, July 25, 1991, No C-362/89

Although a cultural policy aimed at safeguarding the freedom of expression (in particular social, cultural, religious or philosophical) of the various components existing in a Member State, or enabling the pluralist and non-commercial nature of programmes to be maintained may constitute an overriding requirement relating to the general interest, a national measure which requires national broadcasting bodies representing the social, cultural, religious or philosophical components of a Member State to have all or some of their programmes produced by a national undertaking, goes beyond that objective of protection of the freedom of expression.

The requirement to maintain a national radio and television system which secures pluralism cannot justify national rules which make the broadcasting of programmes containing advertisements by foreign broadcasting bodies subject to structural conditions such as the obligation to entrust advertising to a legal person independent of the suppliers of programmes, where there is no necessary connection between such a cultural policy and those conditions.

Restrictions on the broadcasting of advertisements, such as a prohibition on advertising particular products or on certain days, a limitation of the duration or frequency of advertisements or restrictions designed to enable listeners or viewers not to confuse advertising with other parts of the programme, may be imposed in order to protect consumers against excessive advertising.

Restrictions on the broadcasting of advertisements, such as a prohibition on advertising particular products or on certain days, a limitation of the duration or frequency of advertisements or restrictions designed to enable listeners or viewers not to confuse advertising with other parts of the programme, may be imposed, as an objective of cultural policy, in order to maintain a certain level of programme quality.

National legislation which obliges all national broadcasting bodies established in a Member State to use exclusively or to some extent the technical resources provided by a national undertaking restricts the freedom to provide services.

National legislation which makes the broadcasting of programmes containing advertisements by foreign broadcasting bodies subject to structural conditions such as the obligation to entrust advertising to a legal person independent of the suppliers of programmes, cannot be justified by a requirement to maintain a national radio and television system which secures pluralism where there is no necessary connection between such a cultural policy and those conditions.

CJEC, July 25, 1991, No C-353/89

A national measure which, rather than prohibiting any advertising in favor of alcoholic beverages, merely prohibits it in specified places some of which are frequented by motorists and young persons, i.e. two categories of the population in regard to which the campaign against alcoholism is of quite special importance, is proportionate.

National legislation which prohibits, on a part of the territory of a Member State and in certain places, the advertising of beverages having an alcoholic strength of more than 23 degrees, is justified on grounds related to the protection of public health.

There can only be question of an imperative requirement for the derogation from Article 34 TFEU where the measure at issue concerns national and imported products without distinction.

A national measure which applies only to a part of the national territory cannot escape the application of rules relating to the free movement of goods on the ground that it affects both the sale of products from other parts of the national territory and the sale of products imported from other Member States.

The central authorities of a federal State or of other territorial authorities such as the Parliament of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia, may be regarded as authorities of Member States liable to adopt measures having an equivalent effect to a quantitative restriction within the meaning of Article 34 TFEU.

CJEC, July 25, 1991, No C-1/90

De simples différences de qualité entre le produit importé considéré et un produit d'origine européenne ne sont pas de nature à rendre ces produits distincts lorsque leurs caractéristiques physiques fondamentales et leurs utilisations sont identiques.

Portant acceptation d'engagements dans le cadre du réexamen de mesures antidumping concernant les importations de corindon artificiel originaires de l'Union soviétique, de la Hongrie, de la Pologne, de la Tchécoslovaquie et de la République populaire de Chine et dans le cadre de la procédure antidumping concernant les importations de corindon artificiel originaires du Brésil et de la Yougoslavie et portant clôture de l'enquête

CCE, 25 juillet 1991, n° 91-512

Le litige pendant devant une juridiction étatique qui a pour objet la désignation d'un arbitre n'entre pas dans le champ d'application du règlement, même si ce litige soulève au préalable la question de l'existence ou de la validité d'une convention d'arbitrage.

CJCE, 25 juillet 1991, n° C-190/89

Loi autorisant l'approbation de la convention d'application de l'accord de Schengen du 14 juin 1985 entre les Gouvernements des Etats de l'Union économique Benelux, de la République fédérale d'Allemagne et de la République française relatif à la suppression graduelle des contrôles aux frontières communes Journal officiel du 27 juillet 1991

CC, 25 juillet 1991, n° 91-294 DC

Si la directive sur le maintien des droits des travailleurs en cas de transfert d'entreprise ne vise pas les cessions effectuées dans le cadre d'une procédure de concours de créanciers du type de la législation italienne sur la liquidation administrative forcée, qui tend à la liquidation des biens du débiteur en vue du désintéressement des créanciers, elle s'applique pleinement dans le cadre de la  procédure d'administration extraordinaire des grandes entreprises en crise, dans laquelle la poursuite de l'activité de l'entreprise a été décidée, aussi longtemps que la décision de continuation demeure en vigueur.

Décisions de justice rendues en 1991 - Page 15