Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

National Implementation of Directives that Entail the Grant of Individual Rights

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Individual Rights in EU Law

  • 762 Accesses

Abstract

Unlike regulations, directives are not directly applicable within the legal orders of the Member States, cf. Article 288(3) TFEU (Article 249(3) TEC(A), Article 189(3) TEEC). Directives are, nonetheless, a legal instrument for vesting individuals with rights. In order to equip individuals with rights via directives, however, each Member State must follow up the EU legislative initiatives with provisions that are binding on the courts in the domestic legal system. Otherwise individuals are left with no enforceable rights, unless they may point to some provision of the non-implemented directive which has ‘direct effect’. Equipping individuals with rights is, moreover, of little use if individuals are unaware of their rights. It would therefore seem reasonable that there be a line of judgments from the Court of Justice requiring provisions in directives, the end result of which entails the grant of rights, to be transposed into provisions of national law which are both binding and clear.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Contrast, e.g., Case C-300/95 Commission v UK [1997] ECR I-2649 and Case C-338/91 Steenhorst-Neerings [1993] ECR I-5475, cf. Craig and de Búrca (2015), p. 448.

  2. 2.

    Case C-445/06 Danske Slagterier [2009] ECR I-2119, para 67.

  3. 3.

    Case C-131/88 Commission v Germany [1991] ECR I-825.

  4. 4.

    Council Directive 80/68/EEC of 17 December 1979 on the protection of groundwater against pollution caused by certain dangerous substances (Official Journal 1980 L 20, p. 43). Cf., now, Directive 2006/118/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on the protection of groundwater against pollution and deterioration (OJ 2006 L 372, p. 19).

  5. 5.

    Cf. the overview in C-131/88 Commission v Germany [1991] ECR I-825, para 3.

  6. 6.

    Case C-131/88 Commission v Germany [1991] ECR I-825, para 6.

  7. 7.

    Cf., e.g., Case C-208/90 Emmott [1991] ECR I-4269, para 19; Case 363/85 Commission v Italy [1987] ECR 1733, para 7; and Case 29/84 Commission v Federal Republic of Germany [1985] ECR 1661, para 23.

  8. 8.

    Case C-337/13 Almos Agrárkülkereskedelmi [2014] ECR I-nyr (ECJ 14 May 2014) (OJ 2014 C 212, p. 11) (EU:C:2014:328), para 21.

  9. 9.

    Case C-131/88 Commission v Germany [1991] ECR I-825, para 7.

  10. 10.

    Case C-131/88 Commission v Germany [1991] ECR I-825, para 8.

  11. 11.

    Case C-131/88 Commission v Germany [1991] ECR I-825, para 61.

  12. 12.

    Case C-340/96 Commission v United Kingdom [1999] ECR I-2023, para 37.

  13. 13.

    Cf., e.g., Sect. 11.1.2.1.

  14. 14.

    Case C-144/99 Commission v Netherlands [2001] ECR I-3541.

  15. 15.

    Council Directive 93/13/EEC of 5 April 1993 on unfair terms in consumer contracts (OJ 1993 L 95, p. 29).

  16. 16.

    Case C-144/99 Commission v Netherlands [2001] ECR I-3541, para 18.

  17. 17.

    Case C-478/99 Commission v Sweden [2002] ECR I-4147.

  18. 18.

    Case C-478/99 Commission v Sweden [2002] ECR I-4147, para 21.

  19. 19.

    Case C-433/93 Commission v Germany [1993] ECR I-2303.

  20. 20.

    Council Directive 88/295/EEC of 22 March 1988 amending Directive 77/62/EEC relating to the coordination of procedures on the award of public supply contracts and repealing certain provisions of Directive 80/767/EEC (OJ 1988 L 127, p. 1); and Council Directive 89/440/EEC of 18 July 1989 amending Directive 71/305/EEC concerning coordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts (OJ 1989 L 210, p. 1). Cf., now, Directive 2004/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on the coordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts (OJ 2004 L 134, p. 114); and, from 2016, Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on public procurement and repealing Directive 2004/18/EC (OJ 2014 L 94, p. 65).

  21. 21.

    Case 31/87 Beentjes v Netherlands [1988] ECR 4635.

  22. 22.

    Case C-433/93 Commission v Germany [1993] ECR I-2303, para 19.

  23. 23.

    Cf. Classen (1995), p. 2458.

  24. 24.

    Case C-63/01 Evans [2003] ECR I-14447. Cf., also, Sect. 2.3.2.

  25. 25.

    Second Council Directive 84/5/EEC of 30 December 1983 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to insurance against civil liability in respect of the use of motor vehicles (OJ 1984 L 8, p. 17). Cf., now, Directive 2009/103/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 September 2009 relating to insurance against civil liability in respect of the use of motor vehicles, and the enforcement of the obligation to insure against such liability (OJ 2009 L 263, p. 11).

  26. 26.

    Case C-63/01 Evans [2003] ECR I-14447, paras 35–36.

  27. 27.

    Prechal (2008), p. 158.

  28. 28.

    Joined Cases C-178, C-179, C-188, C-189 and C-190/94 Dillenkofer [1996] ECR I-4845, para 48, with reference to Case C-59/89 Commission v Germany [1991] ECR I-2607, para 24. Cf., also, Case C-277/13 Commission v Portugal [2014] ECR I-nyr (ECJ 11 September 2014) (OJ 2014 C 409, p. 14) (EU:C:2014:2208).

  29. 29.

    Case C-339/87 Commission v Netherlands [1990] ECR I-851.

  30. 30.

    Case C-214/98 Commission v Hellenic Republic [2000] ECR I-9601, para 23.

  31. 31.

    Case C-131/88 Commission v Germany [1991] ECR I-825.

  32. 32.

    Council Directive 80/68/EEC of 17 December 1979 on the protection of groundwater against pollution caused by certain dangerous substances (Official Journal 1980 L 20, p. 43). Cf., now, Directive 2006/118/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on the protection of groundwater against pollution and deterioration (OJ 2006 L 372, p. 19).

  33. 33.

    Cf. Case 240/83 ADBHU [1985] ECR 538, para 13.

  34. 34.

    Case C-298/95 Commission v Germany [1996] ECR I-6747.

  35. 35.

    Council Directive 79/923/EEC of 30 October 1979 on the quality required of shellfish waters (OJ 1979 L 281, p. 47). Cf., now, Directive 2006/113/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on the quality required of shellfish waters (codified version) (OJ 2006 L 376, p. 14).

  36. 36.

    Engstroem (2009), p. 7 (footnote 37).

  37. 37.

    Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (OJ 1992 L 206, p. 7).

  38. 38.

    Decision 2004/798/EC adopting, pursuant to the Habitats Directive, the list of sites of Community importance for the Continental biogeographical region (OJ 2004 L 382, p. 1).

  39. 39.

    Case T-122/05 Benkö [2006] ECR II-2939.

  40. 40.

    Cf. Wenneras (2007), p. 151.

  41. 41.

    Cf. Jans and Duijkersloot (2015), p. 452.

  42. 42.

    Case C-361/88 Commission v Germany [1991] ECR I-2567.

  43. 43.

    Council Directive 80/779/EEC of 15 July 1980 on air quality limit values and guide values for sulphur dioxide and suspended particulates (OJ 1980 L 229, p. 30). Cf., now, Council Directive 1999/30/EC of 22 April 1999 relating to limit values for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and lead in ambient air (OJ 1999 L 163, p. 41).

  44. 44.

    Cf. Hilson (1997) and Geddes (1992).

  45. 45.

    Cf. Wenneras (2007), p. 19.

  46. 46.

    Cf. Case C-236/92 Comitato [1994] ECR I-483.

  47. 47.

    Case C-131/88 Commission v Germany [1991] ECR I-825, para 7.

  48. 48.

    Case C-361/88 Commission v Germany [1991] ECR I-2567.

  49. 49.

    Federal Law of 15 March 1974 on protection against the harmful effects of air pollution, noise, vibrations and other types of nuisance on the environment (BGBl I-721).

  50. 50.

    Case C-131/88 Commission v Germany [1991] ECR I-825, para 6.

  51. 51.

    Case C-361/88 Commission v Germany [1991] ECR I-2567, para 16.

  52. 52.

    Opinion of Advocate General Mischo in Case C-361/88 Commission v Germany [1991] ECR I-2567, para 23.

  53. 53.

    Case C-237/07 Janecek [2008] ECR I-6221, para 31, with references to Case C-361/88 Commission v Germany [1991] ECR I-2567, para 16; Case C-59/89 Commission v Germany [1991] ECR I-2607, para 19; and Case C-58/89 Commission v Germany [1991] ECR I-4983, para 14.

  54. 54.

    van Dam (2013), p. 289 (footnote 49).

  55. 55.

    Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (OJ 1992 L 206, p. 7).

  56. 56.

    Case C-240/09 Lesoochranárske zoskupenie [2011] ECR I-1255.

  57. 57.

    Case C-237/07 Janecek [2008] ECR I-6221, para 38.

  58. 58.

    Cf., from France, Tribunal administratif de Rennes, 2 May 2001, Société Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux, req. No 97182; mentioned in the Commissions Nineteenth annual report on monitoring the application of Community law (2001) of 28 June 2002, COM(2002) 324 final.

  59. 59.

    See, from the UK, Bowden v South West Water Services Ltd [1998] 3 CMLR 330, in particular the ruling on appeal, Bowden v South West Water Services Ltd [1999] 3 CMLR 180, cf. the remarks made by de Graf and Jans (2007), pp. 394–397, who also refer to inter alia, from the Netherlands, the ruling by Gerechtshof Den Haag, M en R 2006:1, no 4 (note by JH Jans) (‘Waterpakt’).

  60. 60.

    Cf., from the Netherlands, the ruling by Rechtbank Den Haag, RAwb 1996, 90 (note by R de Lange) (‘Shapiro’) (a physicist argued that he could not find work and that the situation would be different had the Netherlands timely transposed Council Directive 84/466/Euratom of 3 September 1984 laying down basic measures for the radiation protection of persons undergoing medical examination or treatment (OJ 1984 L 265, p. 1)).

  61. 61.

    Jans (2007), p. 289.

  62. 62.

    Cf. Wenneras (2007), p. 156.

  63. 63.

    Cf. de Sadeleer (2012), p. 44.

References

  • Classen CD (1995) Strukturunterschiede zwischen deutschem und europäischem Verwaltungsrecht – Konflikt oder Bereicherung. NJW 38:2457–2464

    Google Scholar 

  • Craig P, de Búrca G (2015) EU law: text, cases and materials, 6th edn. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • de Graf K, Jans J (2007) Liability of public authorities in cases of non-enforcement of environmental standards. PEL Rev 24:377–398

    Google Scholar 

  • de Sadeleer N (2012) Enforcing EUCHR principles and fundamental rights in environmental cases. NJIL 81:39

    Google Scholar 

  • Engstroem J (2009) The Europeanisation of remedies and procedures through judge-made law: can a Trojan horse achieve effectiveness? Experiences of the Swedish Judiciary. Dissertation, European University Institute, Florence

    Google Scholar 

  • Geddes A (1992) Locus Standi and EEC environmental measures. JEL 4:29–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hilson C (1997) Community rights in environmental law: rhetoric or reality? In: Holder J (ed) The impact of EC environmental law in the United Kingdom. Wiley, Chichester, pp 51–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Jans JH (2007) State liability: in search of a dividing line between national and European law. In: Obradovic D, Lavranos N (eds) Interface between EU law and national law. Europa Law Publishing, Groningen, pp 281–296

    Google Scholar 

  • Jans JH, Duijkersloot APW (2015) State liability. In: JH et al (2015) Europeanisation of public law, 2nd edn. Europa Law Publishing, Groningen, pp 437–485

    Google Scholar 

  • Prechal S (2008) Protection of rights: how far? In: Prechal S, van Roermund B (eds) The coherence of EU law, the search for unity in divergent concepts. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 155–182

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • van Dam C (2013) European Tort Law, 2nd edn. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Wenneras P (2007) The enforcement of EC environmental law. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Book  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Private Law, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Bjarte Thorson

Authors
  1. Bjarte Thorson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Thorson, B. (2016). National Implementation of Directives that Entail the Grant of Individual Rights. In: Individual Rights in EU Law. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32771-6_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32771-6_6

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-32770-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-32771-6

  • eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation