# C_2007042EN.01000601.xml

| 24.2.2007 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 42/6 |
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Judgment of the Court (Seventh Chamber) of 11 January 2007 — Commission of the European Communities v Hellenic Republic

(Case C-269/05)( 1 )

(Failure of a Member State to fulfil obligations - Article 1 of Regulation (EEC) No 4055/86 - Maritime transport - Harbour dues levied on passenger vessels or cargo vessels - Harbour dues levied on vehicles aboard ferries - Discrimination)

(2007/C 42/10)

Language of the case: Greek

Parties

Applicant: Commission of the European Communities (represented by: G. Zavvos and K. Simonsson, Agents)

Defendant: Hellenic Republic (represented by: E. Skandalou, Agent)

Re:

Failure of a Member State to fulfil obligations — Breach of Article 1 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4055/86 of 22 December 1986 applying the principle of freedom to provide services to maritime transport between Member States and between Member States and third countries (OJ 1986 L 378, p. 1) — Harbour dues levied on passenger vessels or cargo vessels — Lower level of dues when transport is between two ports within national territory — Harbour dues levied on vehicles aboard ferries — Dues not levied on vehicles travelling between ports in national territory

Operative part of the judgment

The Court:

| 1) | Declares that, by maintaining in force:
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the harbour dues levied on passenger vessels (including cruise ships) or on cargo vessels when they enter into harbour, berth and anchor in the ports of Piraeus and Thessaloniki, applying a lower level of dues when transport is between two ports within Greece as compared with cases where transport is to a destination outside Greece, —
harbour dues for the benefit of the harbour funds of the Port Authorities AE, set up by Law No 2932/2001, and of the ports of Piraeus and Thessaloniki, which are levied on vehicles aboard ferries on international routes, while similar dues are not levied on routes between Greek ports, —
the right to levy dues on vehicles aboard vehicle ferries with a foreign port destination for the benefit of municipalities and communities, the Hellenic Republic has failed to fulfil its obligations under Article 1 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4055/86 of 22 December 1986 applying the principle of freedom to provide services to maritime transport between Member States and between Member States and third countries; | — | the harbour dues levied on passenger vessels (including cruise ships) or on cargo vessels when they enter into harbour, berth and anchor in the ports of Piraeus and Thessaloniki, applying a lower level of dues when transport is between two ports within Greece as compared with cases where transport is to a destination outside Greece, | — | harbour dues for the benefit of the harbour funds of the Port Authorities AE, set up by Law No 2932/2001, and of the ports of Piraeus and Thessaloniki, which are levied on vehicles aboard ferries on international routes, while similar dues are not levied on routes between Greek ports, | — | the right to levy dues on vehicles aboard vehicle ferries with a foreign port destination for the benefit of municipalities and communities, |
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| — | the harbour dues levied on passenger vessels (including cruise ships) or on cargo vessels when they enter into harbour, berth and anchor in the ports of Piraeus and Thessaloniki, applying a lower level of dues when transport is between two ports within Greece as compared with cases where transport is to a destination outside Greece, | | | | | | |
| — | harbour dues for the benefit of the harbour funds of the Port Authorities AE, set up by Law No 2932/2001, and of the ports of Piraeus and Thessaloniki, which are levied on vehicles aboard ferries on international routes, while similar dues are not levied on routes between Greek ports, | | | | | | |
| — | the right to levy dues on vehicles aboard vehicle ferries with a foreign port destination for the benefit of municipalities and communities, | | | | | | |

| 2. | Orders the Hellenic Republic to pay the costs. |
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( 1 )  OJ C 229, 17.9.2005.

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