s
UK courts and EC law
Boch, C.M.C.G.
Publication date
2004
Link to publication
Citation for published version (APA):
Boch, C. M. C. G. (2004). UK courts and EC law.
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UKK COURTS AND EC LAW
Tablee o f Contents Introductoryy Chapter
Introductoryy Chapter
C H A P T E RR I Settingg the Scene
Settingg the scene 17 1.11 U n i o n law or C o m m u n i t y law? 17
1.1.11 T h e acceleration of history 17 I . I . 22 T h e Treaty on European Union 18
1.22 P r i m a r y sources 19 1.2.11 A Europe of bits a n d pieces 19
1.2.22 International a g r e e m e n t s . 19 1.2.33 T h e general principles of law 20 1.2.3.11 T h e EU Charter of F u n d a m e n t a l Rights. 20
1.2.3.22 T h e relevance of the general principles of law in
litigationn 21 1.33 Legislation enacted u n d e r t h e Treaty 22
1.3.11 Regulations a n d t h e devolution dimension 22
1.3.22 Directives 23 1.3.2.11 Directives lay down different types of obligations 24
1.3.2.33 Directives n e e d national law 24 1.3.2.33 Implementation i n practice 25 1.3.2.44 T h e pathology of non-compliance 25 1.3.2.55 Improving t h e quality of EC Directives 26
1.44 Soft l a w 27 1.55 C a s e l a w a s a source of law 27
1.5.11 ECJ decisions relevant a n d b i n d i n g o n t h e UK c o u r t s 27
1.5.22 R e a d i n g t h e c a s e law o f t h e ECJ 28 1.66 T h e notable features of t h e EC Treaty 30
1.6.11 A l a w of solidarity 31 1.6.22 The Autonomy of Community Law 32
1.6.33 O t h e r features of C o m m u n i t y law 33 1.77 T h e UK courts a n d the challenge of interpretation 34
1.88 Conclusion 35
CHAPTERR 2 A r e U k Courts U k Courts or C o m m u n i t y Courts?
Aree UK C o u r t s UK courts o r C o m m u n i t y Courts? 45 2.11 C o m m u n i t y Law as a n e w a n d distinct legal order 45
2.22 National courts are domestic courts 48 2.2.11 No surprise for t h e UK courts 48 2.2.22 T h e principle of Parliamentary Sovereignty 49
2.3.11 Community law must be given effect to according
too its own nature 50 2.3.22 T h e implementation of future C o m m u n i t y obligations:
sectionn 2 (2) creates m o r e restraints on t h e Sovereign
Parliament.. 51
2.3.2.11 Problems with section 2 (2) 52 2.3.2.2.Argumentss based on section 2 (2) 53 2.3.33 Primacy just a rule of construction? 53 2.3.44 T h e EC J as t h e UK supreme court? 55 2.44 Judicial review of primary UK legislation 57 2.4.11 Parliament must obey Community law 57 2.4.22 The authority to give effect to Community law comes
fromm Community law 58 2.4.33 T h e wider ramifications of Factortame 58
2.55 "An irreversible transfer" 59 2.5.11 T h e UK Parliament is n o longer t h e sole legislator 59
2.5.22 Identifying t h e boundaries of Parliamentary
sovereigntyy 59 2.66 General Principles of Law and the UK courts 61
2.6.11 The reach of Community law. 6i 2.6.22 The boundaries of judicial authority 63 2.6.2.11 When applying the principle of legitimate expectation 64
2.6.2.22 W h e n applying t h e principle of proportionality 65
2.6.2.33 When protecting the right to property 66
2.77 Conclusion 67
CHAPTERR 3 Ascertaining the Substance o f C o m m u n i t y Rights
Ascertainingg the substance of Community rights 75
3.11 A step i n t h e domestic proceedings 75 3.22 T h e different functions served by Article 234 76
3.2.11 Helping the development of the Community legal order 76 3.2.22 E n s u r i n g effective protection of C o m m u n i t y
basedd claims 77 3.2.33 T h e private enforcement model is not subordinate to
infringementt proceedings 78 3.2.3.11 Two different remedies 78 3.2.3.22 T h e national court r e m a i n s free to m a k e a reference 78
3.33 What can go w r o n g 79 3.3.11 Some bodies do not have jurisdiction to refer 79
3.3.22 Some questions are inadmissible 8i 3.3.2.11 The viability of the system commands some restraints 82
UKK COURTS AND EC LAW
3.44 T h e national courts as m a i n players 83
3.4.11 Discretionary jurisdiction 85 3.4.1.11 A matter for t h e court hearing the case 85
3.4.1.22 Appeal against a decision to refer 87 3.4.22 Courts with an obligation to refer 8 9
3.4.2.11 Is CUJit still good law? 89 3.4.2.22 No defiance i n the UK courts 90 3.4.33 Interpreting and Applying the Court's ruling 91
3.55 T h e practice 92 3.5.11 Some figures 92
3.5.22 Conflicting views on t h e success of the procedure
inn the UK. 9 4
3.66 Conclusion 94
CHAPTERR 4 G i v i n g Effect to C o m m u n i t y Law
Givingg effect to Community law 105 4.11 Direct effect or t h e justiciability of C o m m u n i t y law 105
4.22 National judges as Community judges 106 4.2.11 The Direct effect of Treaty Provisions: 107 4.2.22 The Direct effect of Regulations and Decisions 109
4.2.33 The Direct effect of Directives no
4.2.3.11 Conditions in 4.2.3.22 National courts' duties vary, as do the obligations
thatt directives contain m 4.2.3.3.Enforcingg directives against the State or a n
emanationn thereof 112 4.2.3.44 Broadening t h e concept of the State or an emanation
thereoff 114 4.2.33 Giving effect to Directives using alternative therapies 115
4.2.3.11 Useful effect t h r o u g h interpretation 116
4.2.3.22 Limits to interpretation 116
4.2.3.33 Legal basis n8 4.2.3.44 Objections n8 4.2.3.55 National law may become inapplicable 119
4.33 T h e Practice in t h e UK courts 122 4.3.11 Enforcing directives against an emanation of the State 122
4.3.2.. Direct effect: a n elusive concept 123 4.3.33 T h e duty of uniform interpretation 123 4.3.3.11 Enforceable C o m m u n i t y rights: a C o m m u n i t y or
nationall definition? 124 4.3.3.22 T h e UK courts' focus should be on section 3 (1) of the
ECC A 125 4.3.3.33 W h e n legal certainty and fairness come into play. 126
CHAPTERR 6
5.11 Where do national obstacles come from? T h e principle off national procedural autonomy 13 5
5.1.11 Going to Court 136 5.1.22 Lack of knowledge or a w a r e n e s s of C o m m u n i t y law 136
5.1.33 Financial considerations 138 5.1.44 Finding t h e appropriate f o r u m a n d choosing t h e correct
formm of action 139 5.1.55 T h e immediacy of t h e remedy 142
5.i.6.Timee limits i n w h i c h to c o m m e n c e proceedings 143 5.22 Balancing effectiveness w i t h national procedural
a u t o n o m yy H3 5.2.11 Finding a n equivalent comparator 144
5.2.22 What is a n effective remedy? T h e ECJ case law
generatess m o r e questions t h a n answers 145
5.2.33 More on effectiveness 147 5.2.44 Assessing proportionality a n d dissuasion 148
5.2.55 A methodology to help national courts to strike
t h ee right balance 149 5.33 Specific r e m e d i e s 150 5.3.11 Existence of a judicial r e m e d y 150
5.3.22 Title and Interest 151 5.3.33 .Community law and national evidential rules 154
5.3.44 Rules on time-limits 154 5.3.55 Interim measures 156 5.3.66 Recovery of s u m s u n d u l y paid 158
5.3.77 Restitution of charges a n d duties levied by t h e public
administrationn in breach of C o m m u n i t y law: 158 5.3.88 Raising C o m m u n i t y Law points ex proprio motu 159
5.3.9.Miscellaneouss influences 161 5.44 T h e UK courts a n d t h e case law o n remedies 163
5.4.11 Compensation 163 5.4.1.11 W h y Marshall II? 163 5.4.1.22 Back i n L u x e m b o u r g 165
5.4.22 Injunction 166 5.4.33 Title and interest 167 5.55 Conclusion 168 AA Right t o a Specific R e m e d y
AA right to a specific remedy: State liability for breach of
Communityy law 177 6.11 T h e recognition of t h e principle of State liability 177
UKK COURTS AND EC LAW
6.1.22 Securing compliance with obligations willingly
undertaken?? T8O 6.22 Clarifying or extending the principle? 182
6.2.11 Constitutional objections 182
6.2.22 T h e legal basis 184 6.2.33 State Liability a n d other available remedies 184
6.33 Conditions 185 6.3.11 Individual rights: T86
6.3.22 A sufficiently serious breach 187 6.3.2.i.Thee measure of discretion left by a Community
m e a s u r ee 189 6.3.2.22 Excusable and i nexcusable error of law 191
6.3.2.33 T h e nature of the rule breached 19 2
6.3.33 A direct causal link 192 6.44 The extent of the reparation 193 6.44 .i.The award of exemplary damages 194
6.4.22 Mitigation 194 6.55 State liability for breach of Community law in the UK
courts:: finding the right cause of action 194
6.66 Conclusion 195
CHAPTERR 7 Enforcing C o m m u n i t y Law a g a i n s t the C o m m u n i t y Institutions s
Enforcingg Community law against the Community
institutionss 203 7.11 Article 234 as a m e a n s of securing a declaration of
invalidityy of Community legislation 204 7.1.1.. Assessing the validity of Community legislation,
againstt which norms? 205 7.1.22 T h e relationship b e t w e e n Articles 234 a n d 230 EC 206
7.1.33 A n even more inventive u s e of Article 234 207 7.1.4.11 T h e p r e l i m i n a r y r u l i n g is not a procedure to give
advisoryy opinion 208 7.1.44 The relationship between 230 a n d 234 needs clarified
oncee more 209 7.1.55 T h e need for interim protection 211
7.1.66 The principle of interim protection 212 7.1.6.11 T h e conditions for t h e grant of interim relief:
nationall or Community conditions? 213 7.22 Concurrent liability issues 215 7.2.i.Whyy do concurrent liability issues arise? 215
7.2.22 T h e nature of the problem: national and C o m m u n i t y institutionss are 'accountable under different legal orders' 216
7.33 Conclusion 221
CHAPTERR 8 Rides to Enforce the Rules
Ruless to enforce the rules: Specific Community rules for the
enforcementt of Community law 229
8.11 The present 229 8.22 A case study: the public procurement rules 231
8.2.1.Thee R e m e d i e s Directive 232 8.33 Why does the C o m m u n i t y make rules for the enforcement
off C o m m u n i t y law? 233 8.3.11 F r o m t h e level playing field p a r a d i g m 233
8.3.22 To t h e very credibility of t h e project 234 8.3.33 M a k i n g centralised enforcement easier 234 8.3.44 Protecting the Community financial interests 235
8.3.55 Some successes 235 8.44 The Political Dimension 235 8.4.11 Legal (un)feasibility 237 8.4.22 Will Article 65 EC change matters? 238
8.55 T h e role of t h e ECJ in facilitating harmonisation 240 8.6.Thee limits of the decentralised enforcement model 241 8.6.11 The interests at stake: effectiveness v. national
procedurall autonomy 241 8.6.22 Private litigation is not always an option for all 242
8.6.33 Judicial intervention a n d d i s c r i m i n a t i o n 244
8.77 Conclusion 245 C o n c l u d i n gg Remarks 253 Annex x
