Judgment of the Court (First Chamber) of 17 June 2004 in Case C-30/02 (reference for a preliminary ruling from the Tribunal Tributário de Primeira Instância de Lisboa): Recheio — Cash & Carry SA v Fazenda Pública/Registo Nacional de Pessoas Colectivas (Recovery of sums paid though not due — Period of 90 days for the bringing of an action — Principle of effectiveness)
Date: 2004-08-07
Institutions: Court of Justice
Subjects: EU law, interpretation of the law, tax

7.8.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 201/1

I

(Information)

COURT OF JUSTICE

COURT OF JUSTICE

JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

(Full Court)

of 22 June 2004

(First Chamber)

of 17 June 2004

in Case C-42/01: Portuguese Republic v Commission of the
European Communities (1)

(Community control of concentrations between undertakings
— Article 21(3) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 —
Protection by Member States of their legitimate interests —
Competence of the Commission)

in Case C-30/02 (reference for a preliminary ruling from
the Tribunal Tributário de Primeira Instância de Lisboa):
Recheio — Cash & Carry SA v Fazenda Pública/Registo
Nacional de Pessoas Colectivas (1)

(Recovery of sums paid though not due — Period of 90 days
for the bringing of an action — Principle of effectiveness)

(2004/C 201/01)

(Language of the case: Portuguese)

(2004/C 201/02)

(Language of the case: Portuguese)

(Provisional translation; the definitive translation will be published in
the European Court Reports)

(Provisional translation; the definitive translation will be published in
the European Court Reports)

In Case C-42/01: Portuguese Republic, (Agents: L.I. Fernandes
and L. Duarte, assisted by M. Marques Mendes) v Commission
of the European Communities (Agents: P. Oliver and M. França)
— application for the annulment of Commission Decision
C(2000) 3543 final-PT of 22 November 2000 in relation to a
proceeding under Article 21 of Council Regulation (EEC) No
4064/89 of 21 December 1989 on the control of concentra-
tions between undertakings (Case No COMP/M.2054 – Secil/
Holderbank/Cimpor) — the Court (Full Court), composed of: V.
Skouris, President, P. Jann, C.W.A. Timmermans, A. Rosas, C.
Gulmann, J.-P. Puissochet and J. N. Cunha Rodrigues, Presidents
of Chambers, A. La Pergola, R. Schintgen, N. Colneric and S.
von Bahr (Rapporteur), Judges; A. Tizzano, Advocate General;
M. Múgica Arzamendi, Principal Administrator, for the Regis-
trar, has given a judgment on 22 June 2004, in which it:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders the Portuguese Republic to pay the costs.

In Case C-30/02: REFERENCE to the Court under Article 234
EC from the Tribunal Tributário de Primeira Instância de
Lisboa (Portugal) for a preliminary ruling in the proceedings
pending before that court between Recheio — Cash & Carry
SA and Fazenda Pública/Registo Nacional de Pessoas Colectivas,
intervener: Ministério Público — on the interpretation of Com-
munity law concerning recovery of sums paid though not due
— the Court (First Chamber), composed of: P. Jann, President
of
the Chamber, A. La Pergola, S. von Bahr (Rapporteur),
R. Silva de Lapuerta and K. Lenaerts, Judges; P. Jann, President
of
the Chamber, A. La Pergola, S. von Bahr (Rapporteur),
R. Silva de Lapuerta and K. Lenaerts D. Ruiz-Jarabo Colomer,
Advocate General; M. Múgica Arzamendi, Principal Adminis-
trator, for the Registrar, has given a judgment on 17 June
2004, in which it has ruled:

With regard to a claim for repayment of charges levied in breach of
Community law, the principle of effectiveness of Community law does
not militate against the fixing of a limitation period of 90 days reck-
oned from the end of the period prescribed for voluntary payment of
those charges.

(1) OJ C 108, 7.4.2001.

(1) OJ C 97, 20.4.2002.