Order of the Court of 5 October 1969. - Federal Republic of Germany v Commission of the European Communities. - Case 50-69 R.



European Court reports 1969 Page 00449



Parties

Subject of the case

Grounds

Decision on costs

Operative part



Parties

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IN CASE 50/69 R

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, REPRESENTED BY ULRICH EVERLING, MINISTERIALDIRIGENT AT THE FEDERAL MINISTRY FOR ECONOMIC AFFAIRS, WITH AN ADDRESS FOR SERVICE IN LUXEMBOURG AT THE OFFICE OF THE HEAD OF CHANCERY AT THE EMBASSY OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, 3 BOULEVARD ROYAL,

APPLICANT,

V

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, REPRESENTED BY WALTER MUCH, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR - GENERAL OF THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, ACTING AS AGENT, WITH AN ADDRESS FOR SERVICE IN LUXEMBOURG AT THE OFFICE OF ITS LEGAL ADVISER, EMILE REUTER, 4 BOULEVARD ROYAL,

DEFENDANT,

Subject of the case

APPLICATION FOR SUSPENSION OF THE OPERATION OF THE DECISION OF THE COMMISSION OF 1 OCTOBER 1969 AUTHORIZING THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC TO UNDERTAKE CERTAIN PROTECTIVE MEASURES IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR,

Grounds

HAVING REGARD TO THE REPORT FOR THE HEARING .

ON 30 SEPTEMBER 1969 THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY APPLIED TO THE COMMISSION FOR AUTHORIZATION PROVISIONALLY TO TAKE CERTAIN PROTECTIVE MEASURES IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR .

THIS APPLICATION WAS MADE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 226 OF THE EEC TREATY .

BY ITS DECISION OF 1 OCTOBER 1969 THE COMMISSION, WHILST EXCLUDING ANY DEROGATION FROM THE COMMUNITY RULES IN FORCE, AUTHORIZED THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY TO SUSPEND IMPORTS INTO GERMANY OF VARIOUS AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS .

IN THE PRESENT APPLICATION FOR THE ADOPTION OF AN INTERIM MEASURE THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY REQUESTS SUSPENSION OF THE OPERATION OF THE SAID DECISION OF THE COMMISSION TO THE EXTENT TO WHICH IT WOULD RESULT IN EXCLUDING ALL MEASURES OTHER THAN THE SUSPENSION OF IMPORTS .

ARTICLE 226 OF THE EEC TREATY PROVIDES THAT ALTHOUGH, WHERE DIFFICULTIES ARISE WHICH ARE SERIOUS AND LIABLE TO PERSIST IN ANY SECTOR OF THE ECONOMY OR IN A GIVEN AREA, A MEMBER STATE MAY APPLY FOR AUTHORIZATION TO TAKE PROTECTIVE MEASURES, IT IS FOR THE COMMISSION TO DETERMINE THE PROTECTIVE MEASURES WHICH IT CONSIDERS NECESSARY SPECIFYING THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE MANNER IN WHICH THEY ARE TO BE PUT INTO EFFECT .

WHILST THE DECISION OF 1 OCTOBER 1969 AUTHORIZED THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY TO TAKE SUCH PROTECTIVE MEASURES AS THE COMMISSION CONSIDERED NECESSARY IN THAT SPECIFIC SITUATION, IT ALSO CONSTITUTES A REFUSAL TO AUTHORIZE UNDER ARTICLE 226 MEASURES WHICH AS THOSE ADOPTED IN THE ORDER OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF 29 SEPTEMBER 1969, SUBMITTED TO THE COMMISSION BY THE APPLICATION LODGED ON 30 SEPTEMBER 1969 .

ALTHOUGH IT CONTAINED NO EXPRESS PROVISION TO THIS EFFECT, THE DECISION IN NO WAY IMPLIED MORE THAN THE AUTHORIZATION TO TAKE WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF ARTICLE 226 THIS SINGLE MEASURE IN DEROGATION FROM COMMUNITY RULES AND DID NOT EXCLUDE THE APPLICATION OF OTHER ASPECTS OF COMMUNITY LAW .

IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES THE APPLICATION FOR THE ADOPTION OF AN INTERIM MEASURE CANNOT ATTAIN THE OBJECT DESIRED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, SINCE SUSPENSION OF THE OPERATION OF A DECISION OF REFUSAL CANNOT BE EQUIVALENT TO THE GRANT OF THE AUTHORIZATION REFUSED BY THE COMMISSION .

THE COURT HAS NO AUTHORITY TO SUBSTITUTE ITSELF FOR THE COMMISSION IN ORDER TO TAKE WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF ARTICLE 226 DECISIONS INSTEAD AND IN PLACE OF THE EXECUTIVE .

CONSEQUENTLY, THE APPLICATION FOR SUSPENSION OF THE OPERATION OF THE DECISION OF 1 OCTOBER 1969 MUST BE DISMISSED .

Decision on costs

THE COSTS ARE RESERVED .

Operative part

THE COURT

AS AN INTERIM RULING,

HEREBY ORDERS :

THE APPLICATION FOR SUSPENSION OF THE OPERATION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE DECISION OF THE COMMISSION OF 1 OCTOBER 1969 IS DISMISSED;

THE COSTS ARE RESERVED .