Summary European Union Law
1
,WEEK 1
Webcast 1: Basic Notions I
Discrimination is the unequal treatment of comparable situations for a specific reason which is
forbidden.
1. Direct discrimination: if you can identify the ground on which the different treatment is
based by reading the wording of the measure under scrutiny, can barely be found in laws
For example, it happens if someone doesn’t get a job because of their disability or
isn’t treated equally because of their race.
2. Indirect discrimination: if the measure does not literally use the origin, yet the same effect
bv based on an ingredient
- Objective differentiation: two situations remain differently even if we exclude all
forbidden grounds as possible elements that can define these situations as being
different, different treatment is fine, nothing to do with origin zijn in essentie dus
twee andere situaties
3. Non-discriminatory restriction: the measure does not treat two comparable situations
differently, neither directly in its wording, nor indirectly by effecting one situation less
favourable than the other
bv op zondag winkels gesloten in Italië, heeft niks met de pasta te maken
(!) they all are measures that violate EU internal market law
Webcast 2: Basic Notions II
these have in common that they define the remaining leeway for MS when the measures
violate EU internal market law
Exception (uitzondering): that whatever falls under it is located outside the scope of EU law.
Cannot violate EU market law
- No need to apply proportionality
- BV. Mara wil een Duitse rechter worden, daarvoor is een speciale opleiding nodig.
o Execption: art. 45 par. 4 TFEU EU free movement rules shall not apply to
employment in the public service (exception)
Exemption (vrijstelling): if exempted, measure is no violation of EU internal market law
Justification: there are good reasons for violation of EU internal market law.
- If permitted for justification, a measure must meet the requirements of the
proportionality test. When? Depends on:
a. Explicit justification grounds: mentioned in TFEU, art. 36 TFEU?
b. Mandatory requirements: unwritten justification grounds that a MS can also rely
on under special requirements, in case law.
- Only after the objective is declared admissible for justification by EU law, we can
continue with the proportionality test
Proportionality: relationship between two items.
- Measure under scrutiny vs. the benchmark which the proportionality of the measure is
tested (EU law)
- BV. Mara wil advocaat worden in Duitsland en ze ontvangt een afwijzing door haar
Nederlandse diploma. De free movement is beperkt, is dit proportioneel?
3 step test:
1. Is the measure suitable to achieve the objective? (geschikt om het doel te bereiken?)
2. Is the measure necessary to attain this objective? (noodzakelijk om het doel te bereiken?)
3. Does even the least restrictive measure not excessively interfere with the EU free
movement rights? (minst beperkte maatregel geen buitensporige afbreuk aan EU-recht?)
Is op eentje het antwoord nee? Dan is de measure disproportionate.
2
, - Toepassing: loopt waarschijnlijk stuk op laatste, ze had bijvoorbeeld een toets kunnen
doen in plaats van gelijk afwijzen, het gaat verder dan nodig om Duitse consumenten
te beschermen.
Lecture 1: Introduction lecture
The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of 27 member states
that are located primarily in Europe. The EU was established, along with its citizenship, when the
Maastricht Treaty came into force in 1993.
27 member states:
België, Bulgarije, Cyprus, Denemarken, Duitsland, Estland, Finland, Frankrijk (inclusief de Franse
overzeese gebieden Guadeloupe, Frans-Guyana, Martinique, Mayotte en Réunion en de Franse
overzeese gemeenschap Saint-Martin), Griekenland, Hongarije, Ierland, Italië, Kroatië, Letland,
Litouwen, Luxemburg, Malta, Nederland, Oostenrijk, Polen, Portugal (inclusief Madeira en de
Azoren), Roemenië, Slovenië, Slowakije, Spanje (inclusief de Canarische Eilanden), Tsjechië,
Zweden
What is EU internal market?
The EU internal market is at the very heart of the European integration process.
- WHY? The EU (EEC back then) inherently and historically associated with the
conceptual idea of free trade
- Original idea: free trade and interconnectedness of MS economies is positive not only
for conflict prevention but also for prosperity
De Europese interne markt (ook wel eengemaakte, gemeenschappelijke markt, Europese
binnenmarkt of eenheidsmarkt genoemd) is de grootste interne markt ter wereld. Het is een
ruimte zonder binnengrenzen, waarbinnen economische productiefactoren (goederen, personen,
diensten en kapitaal) zich vrij kunnen bewegen en omvat een regime dat verzekert dat de
mededinging niet wordt vervalst.
1968 European Customs Union
- Removal of tariffs between the 6 founding MS + common external tariff
o Other example: Southern African Customs Union
o How is the EU different? Delegation of this task to commonly appointed
supranational institutions
Commission → Directorate-General for Trade (DG Trade)
à Commissioner for trade the most powerful portfolio
1993 European Single/Internal Market
- European single market, internal market or common market → synonyms
- Area in which the free movement of goods, services, capital and persons is assured,
and in which citizens are free to live, work, study and conduct business
EU Competition Law
competitie tussen bedrijven ten behoeve van consumenten, dat we keuze hebben
EU competition law consists of European legislation aimed at protecting fair competition between
undertakings in the internal market of the EU and promoting market integration between the
markets and economies of the Member States. In this course:
- Art. 101 TFEU: prohibition of cartels or anti-competitive collusive behaviour between
undertakings.
- Art. 102 TFEU: prohibition on the abuse of a dominant position by one or more
undertakings.
- Art. 107 TFEU: prohibition of providing State aid by member states to selective
undertakings.
How can competition on the EU internal market be distorted?
1. Cartel or abuse of a dominant position (by undertakings)
3
1
,WEEK 1
Webcast 1: Basic Notions I
Discrimination is the unequal treatment of comparable situations for a specific reason which is
forbidden.
1. Direct discrimination: if you can identify the ground on which the different treatment is
based by reading the wording of the measure under scrutiny, can barely be found in laws
For example, it happens if someone doesn’t get a job because of their disability or
isn’t treated equally because of their race.
2. Indirect discrimination: if the measure does not literally use the origin, yet the same effect
bv based on an ingredient
- Objective differentiation: two situations remain differently even if we exclude all
forbidden grounds as possible elements that can define these situations as being
different, different treatment is fine, nothing to do with origin zijn in essentie dus
twee andere situaties
3. Non-discriminatory restriction: the measure does not treat two comparable situations
differently, neither directly in its wording, nor indirectly by effecting one situation less
favourable than the other
bv op zondag winkels gesloten in Italië, heeft niks met de pasta te maken
(!) they all are measures that violate EU internal market law
Webcast 2: Basic Notions II
these have in common that they define the remaining leeway for MS when the measures
violate EU internal market law
Exception (uitzondering): that whatever falls under it is located outside the scope of EU law.
Cannot violate EU market law
- No need to apply proportionality
- BV. Mara wil een Duitse rechter worden, daarvoor is een speciale opleiding nodig.
o Execption: art. 45 par. 4 TFEU EU free movement rules shall not apply to
employment in the public service (exception)
Exemption (vrijstelling): if exempted, measure is no violation of EU internal market law
Justification: there are good reasons for violation of EU internal market law.
- If permitted for justification, a measure must meet the requirements of the
proportionality test. When? Depends on:
a. Explicit justification grounds: mentioned in TFEU, art. 36 TFEU?
b. Mandatory requirements: unwritten justification grounds that a MS can also rely
on under special requirements, in case law.
- Only after the objective is declared admissible for justification by EU law, we can
continue with the proportionality test
Proportionality: relationship between two items.
- Measure under scrutiny vs. the benchmark which the proportionality of the measure is
tested (EU law)
- BV. Mara wil advocaat worden in Duitsland en ze ontvangt een afwijzing door haar
Nederlandse diploma. De free movement is beperkt, is dit proportioneel?
3 step test:
1. Is the measure suitable to achieve the objective? (geschikt om het doel te bereiken?)
2. Is the measure necessary to attain this objective? (noodzakelijk om het doel te bereiken?)
3. Does even the least restrictive measure not excessively interfere with the EU free
movement rights? (minst beperkte maatregel geen buitensporige afbreuk aan EU-recht?)
Is op eentje het antwoord nee? Dan is de measure disproportionate.
2
, - Toepassing: loopt waarschijnlijk stuk op laatste, ze had bijvoorbeeld een toets kunnen
doen in plaats van gelijk afwijzen, het gaat verder dan nodig om Duitse consumenten
te beschermen.
Lecture 1: Introduction lecture
The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of 27 member states
that are located primarily in Europe. The EU was established, along with its citizenship, when the
Maastricht Treaty came into force in 1993.
27 member states:
België, Bulgarije, Cyprus, Denemarken, Duitsland, Estland, Finland, Frankrijk (inclusief de Franse
overzeese gebieden Guadeloupe, Frans-Guyana, Martinique, Mayotte en Réunion en de Franse
overzeese gemeenschap Saint-Martin), Griekenland, Hongarije, Ierland, Italië, Kroatië, Letland,
Litouwen, Luxemburg, Malta, Nederland, Oostenrijk, Polen, Portugal (inclusief Madeira en de
Azoren), Roemenië, Slovenië, Slowakije, Spanje (inclusief de Canarische Eilanden), Tsjechië,
Zweden
What is EU internal market?
The EU internal market is at the very heart of the European integration process.
- WHY? The EU (EEC back then) inherently and historically associated with the
conceptual idea of free trade
- Original idea: free trade and interconnectedness of MS economies is positive not only
for conflict prevention but also for prosperity
De Europese interne markt (ook wel eengemaakte, gemeenschappelijke markt, Europese
binnenmarkt of eenheidsmarkt genoemd) is de grootste interne markt ter wereld. Het is een
ruimte zonder binnengrenzen, waarbinnen economische productiefactoren (goederen, personen,
diensten en kapitaal) zich vrij kunnen bewegen en omvat een regime dat verzekert dat de
mededinging niet wordt vervalst.
1968 European Customs Union
- Removal of tariffs between the 6 founding MS + common external tariff
o Other example: Southern African Customs Union
o How is the EU different? Delegation of this task to commonly appointed
supranational institutions
Commission → Directorate-General for Trade (DG Trade)
à Commissioner for trade the most powerful portfolio
1993 European Single/Internal Market
- European single market, internal market or common market → synonyms
- Area in which the free movement of goods, services, capital and persons is assured,
and in which citizens are free to live, work, study and conduct business
EU Competition Law
competitie tussen bedrijven ten behoeve van consumenten, dat we keuze hebben
EU competition law consists of European legislation aimed at protecting fair competition between
undertakings in the internal market of the EU and promoting market integration between the
markets and economies of the Member States. In this course:
- Art. 101 TFEU: prohibition of cartels or anti-competitive collusive behaviour between
undertakings.
- Art. 102 TFEU: prohibition on the abuse of a dominant position by one or more
undertakings.
- Art. 107 TFEU: prohibition of providing State aid by member states to selective
undertakings.
How can competition on the EU internal market be distorted?
1. Cartel or abuse of a dominant position (by undertakings)
3
