1 BY APPLICATION LODGED AT THE COURT REGISTRY ON 4 FEBRUARY 1980 THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES BROUGHT AN ACTION UNDER ARTICLE 169 OF THE EEC TREATY FOR A DECLARATION THAT BY FAILING TO ADOPT , WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED PERIOD , THE PROVISIONS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 76/116/EEC OF 18 DECEMBER 1975 ON THE APPROXIMATION OF THE LAWS OF THE MEMBER STATES RELATING TO FERTILIZERS ( OFFICIAL JOURNAL 1976 , L 24 , P . 21 ) AND COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 77/535/EEC OF 22 JUNE 1977 ON THE APPROXIMATION OF THE LAWS OF THE MEMBER STATES RELATING TO METHODS OF SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS FOR FERTILIZERS ( OFFICIAL JOURNAL 1977 , L 213 , P . 1 ) THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC HAS FAILED TO FULFIL ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE THIRD PARAGRAPH OF ARTICLE 189 OF THE TREATY .
2 UNDER ARTICLE 12 OF COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 76/116/EEC IN CONJUNCTION WITH ARTICLE 2 OF COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 77/535/EEC , THE MEMBER STATES WERE OBLIGED TO BRING INTO FORCE THE PROVISIONS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THOSE DIRECTIVES WITHIN A PERIOD WHICH EXPIRED ON 19 DECEMBER 1977 .
3 THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT DOES NOT DISPUTE THAT IT HAS NOT FULFILLED THOSE OBLIGATIONS . IT EXPLAINS THE DELAY IN THE INCORPORATION OF THE TWO DIRECTIVES INTO THE NATIONAL LEGAL SYSTEM BY THE NEED FOR THE PREPARATION AND APPROVAL OF A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE MEASURE WHICH WILL LAY DOWN NEW RULES FOR THE ENTIRE FERTILIZER SECTOR . A DRAFT LAW HAS BEEN LAID BEFORE THE CHAMBERS AND THE PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE IS TAKING ITS COURSE . ONCE IT HAS ENTERED INTO FORCE , THAT LAW WILL ENSURE THE INCORPORATION OF COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 77/535/EEC INTO THE NATIONAL LEGAL SYSTEM .
4 THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES DO NOT EXPUNGE THE FAILURE TO FULFIL ITS OBLIGATIONS WITH WHICH THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC IS CHARGED . ACCORDING TO WELL-ESTABLISHED CASE-LAW , A MEMBER STATE MAY NOT PLEAD PROVISIONS , PRACTICES OR CIRCUMSTANCES EXISTING IN ITS INTERNAL LEGAL SYSTEM IN ORDER TO JUSTIFY A FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH OBLIGATIONS AND TIME-LIMITS RESULTING FROM COMMUNITY DIRECTIVES .
5 IT MUST , THEREFORE , BE HELD THAT BY FAILING TO ADOPT , WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED PERIOD , THE PROVISIONS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 76/116/EEC AND COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 77/535/EEC , THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC HAS FAILED TO FULFIL ONE OF ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE TREATY .