CELEX: 62009CN0255
Language: en
Date: 2009-07-09 00:00:00
Title: Case C-255/09: Action brought on 9 July 2009 — Commission of the European Communities v Portuguese Republic

29.8.2009   
            
            
               EN
            
            
               Official Journal of the European Union
            
            
               C 205/29
            
         Action brought on 9 July 2009 — Commission of the European Communities v Portuguese Republic
   (Case C-255/09)
   2009/C 205/51
   Language of the case: Portuguese
   
      Parties
   
   
      Applicant: Commission of the European Communities (represented by: E. Traversa and M. França, Agents)
   
      Defendant: Portuguese Republic
   
      Form of order sought
   
   
               —
            
            
               Declare that the Portuguese Republic has failed to fulfil its obligations under Article 49 EC, by not providing for the reimbursement of non-hospital medical expenses incurred in another Member State, other than in the circumstances laid down in Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71, (1) either in Decree-Law No 177/92 of 13 August, which lays down the conditions for reimbursement of medical expenses incurred abroad, or in any other provision of national law; or to the extent that that Decree-Law allows for the reimbursement of non-hospital medical expenses incurred in another Member State, by making such reimbursement subject to prior authorisation.
            
         
               —
            
            
               Order the Portuguese Republic to pay the costs.
            
         
      Pleas in law and main arguments
   
   The Commission considers that the Portuguese Republic has failed to fulfil its obligations under Article 49 EC, as interpreted by the case-law of the Court of Justice.
   The effect of that case-law is that Article 49 EC applies to the situation of a patient who receives, in a Member State other than his Member State of residence, medical services which are provided for consideration.
   In Portugal, Decree-Law No 177/92, which lays down the conditions for reimbursement of medical expenses incurred abroad, does not specifically provide for the reimbursement of non-hospital medical expenses incurred in another Member State, other than in the circumstances laid down in Regulation No 1408/71, or, in accordance with the interpretation put forward by the Portuguese authorities, it makes the reimbursement of those non-hospital medical expenses subject to prior authorisation, on restrictive conditions.
   
      (1)  Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 of the Council of 14 June 1971 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons, to self-employed persons and to members of their families moving within the Community (OJ, English Special Edition 1971(II), p. 416).