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Paragraph 38a of the Verwaltungsgerichtshofgesetz (Law on the Supreme Administrative Court) of 1985 (BGBl. 10/1985), in the version applicable to the disputes in the main proceedings (‘the VwGG’), is worded as follows: ‘(1) If a significant number of appeals on a point of law are pending before the [Verwaltungsgerichtshof (Supreme Administrative Court, Austria)] in which legal issues of the same kind are to be resolved or there is reason to believe that a significant number of such appeals will be filed, the [Verwaltungsgerichtshof (Supreme Administrative Court)] may issue an order accordingly. Such an order shall contain: 1. the legal provisions applicable to the proceedings; 2. the legal issues to be resolved on the basis of these legal provisions; 3. the reference to the appeals on a point of law which will be dealt with by the [Verwaltungsgerichtshof (Supreme Administrative Court)]. The orders shall be made by the competent Chamber in accordance with how responsibilities are allocated. (2) In so far as the legal provisions referred to in the order under Paragraph 38a(1) also consist, at a minimum, of laws, of international treaties of a political nature or which amend or supplement laws, or of international treaties amending the legal bases of the European Union, the Federal Chancellor or the competent state governor or, in all other cases, the competent central authority of the Federal state or Land shall be required to publish such orders without delay. (3) The publication of the order under Paragraph 38a(1) shall have the following effects, as of the date on which publication occurs: 1. In cases in which an administrative court has to apply the legal provisions mentioned in the order and determine a legal issue mentioned therein: (a) Only such actions may be taken or directions and decisions made which cannot be affected by the ruling of the [Verwaltungsgerichtshof (Supreme Administrative Court)] or do not finally resolve the issue and in respect of which suspension is precluded. (b) The period of time within which to lodge an appeal on a point of law shall not start to run; where a period of time within which to lodge an appeal on a point of law has already started to run, it shall be suspended. (c) The period of time within which to bring an application for the fixing of a time limit and the periods of time for adopting a decision provided for in federal legislation or that of the Länder shall be suspended. 2. In all proceedings for the purposes of Paragraph 38a(1) pending before the [Verwaltungsgerichtshof (Supreme Administrative Court)] which are not mentioned in the order under Paragraph 38a(1): Only such actions may be taken or directions and decisions made which cannot be affected by the ruling of the [Verwaltungsgerichtshof (Supreme Administrative Court)] or do not finally resolve the issue and in respect of which suspension is precluded. (4) In its ruling the [Verwaltungsgerichtshof (Supreme Administrative Court)] shall summarise its legal view in one or more legal rules which, in accordance with Paragraph 38a(2), shall be published without delay. As of the date of publication, a period of time within which to lodge an appeal on a point of law that had been suspended shall begin to run again and the other effects of Paragraph 38a(3) shall cease.’