European Court of Justice (News)

Berlington Hungary and Others
Approximation of laws
Hungarian legislation which prohibits the operation of slot machines outside casinos may be contrary to the principle of freedom to provide services

Base Company and Mobistar
Approximation of laws
The Universal Service Directive does not lay down a social pricing obligation for mobile communications and mobile Internet subscriptions

Fahnenbrock
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
Legal proceedings brought in Germany against the Greek State by individuals following the forced exchange of their government bonds may be served on that State in accordance with the EU Regulation on service

On the initiative of a number of Members of the Court of Justice, a Liber Amicorum will be presented to Mr Vassilios Skouris to celebrate his 12 years at the head of the institution

Garcia-Nieto and Others
Social security for migrant workers
According to Advocate General Wathelet, EU citizens who move to a Member State of which they are not nationals may be excluded from entitlement to certain social benefits during the first three months

Commission v United Kingdom
Taxation
The United Kingdom cannot apply, with respect to all housing, a reduced rate of VAT to the supply and installation of energy-saving materials, since that rate is reserved solely to transactions relating to social housing

Teekanne
Approximation of laws
The labelling of a foodstuff must not mislead the consumer by giving the impression that a particular ingredient is present, even though it is not in fact present

Faber
Approximation of laws
The Court clarifies the rules on consumer protection with regard to the sale of consumer goods and associated guarantees

Kernkraftwerke Lippe-Ems
State aid
German duty on nuclear fuel is compatible with EU law

P and S
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
Member States may require third-country nationals with long-term resident status to pass a civic integration examination

Commission v MOL
State aid
The Court of Justice, like the General Court, confirms that the agreement between the Hungarian State and the oil company MOL relating to the exploitation of hydrocarbon fields does not constitute State aid

CDC
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
Victims of an unlawful cartel may claim compensation for their loss before the courts where one of the participants in the infringement is domiciled

Timab Industries and CFPR v Commission
Competition
In the context of the cartel on phosphates, the General Court for the first time rules on the relationship between the standard procedure and the settlement procedure, and upholds the fine of nearly €60 million imposed on the Roullier group

Award of the 50th Theodor Heuss prize to the Court of Justice of the European Union

Niki Luftfahrt v Commission
State aid
The General Court dismisses the actions brought by the airline Niki Luftfahrt against Lufthansa’s acquisition of Austrian Airlines and the restructuring aid granted by Austria to Austrian in that regard

Rabal Cañas
SOPO
The definition of collective redundancy under Spanish law is contrary to EU law

Dalli v Commission
Law governing the institutions
The General Court dismisses the action of the former Commissioner John Dalli concerning the fact that President Barroso allegedly required him to resign

Czech Republic v Commission
Agriculture and fisheries
The dairy spread known as ‘pomazánkové máslo’ may not be registered as a traditional speciality guaranteed

Unión de Almacenistas de Hierros de España v Commission
Law governing the institutions
The General Court finds that documents exchanged between the Commission and a national competition authority in proceedings concerning an infringement of the competition rules are not, in principle, accessible to the public

Skype v OHMI - Sky and Sky IP International (skype)
Intellectual and industrial property
The General Court confirms that there exists a likelihood of confusion between the figurative and word sign SKYPE and the word mark SKY