Abstract
The legal exercise of Community powers may as much be infringed by an act of a Community institution as by its inaction. In both instances, the conduct of a Community institution may be contrary to Community law — irrelevant whether explicitly or implicitly manifested. Moreover, interests of private parties may be equally affected by an illegal act or by an illegal inaction. However, this allegedly common purpose of an action for annulment or for default1 should not obscure the fact that these two legal actions pose their own problems and difficulties. Leaving this common purpose aside, it seems evident that, in practice, an action for default, compared with an action for annulment, pursues a different way of ensuring a legal conduct of a Community institution.
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References
Judgment No. 15/70 (Chevalley v. Commission) [1970] ECR 975, 979; No. 59/70 (The Netherlands v. Commission) [ 1971 ] ECR 639, 653.
ECSC Treaty Article 35; EEC Treaty Article 175; Euratom Treaty Article 148.
Judgment Nos. 7/54 & 9/54 (Groupement des Industries Sidérurgiques Luxembourgeoises v. High Authority) [1954–56] ECR 175, 191; No. 12/63 (Schlieker v. High Authority) [ 1963 ] ECR 85, 89.
Judgment No. 42 and 49/59 (SNUPAT v. High Authority) [ 1961 ] ECR 53, 89.
Judgment Nos. 7/54 and 9/54 (Groupement des Industries Sidérurgiques Luxembourgeoises v. High Authority) [1954–56] ECR 175, 192; No. 30/59 (De Gezamenlijke Steenkolenmijnen v. High Authority) [ 1961 ] ECR 1, 15.
Judgment Nos. 7/54 & 9/54 (Groupement des Industries Sidérurgiques Luxembourgeoises v. High Authority) [1954–56] ECR 175, 192.
Advocate General Roemer in the Judgment cit. supra, id. 204, 211.
Advocate General Roemer, id. 211.
Judgment Nos. 7/54 & 9/54 (Groupement des Industries Sidérurgiques Luxembourgeoises v. High Authority) [1954–56] ECR 175, 194.
Judgment No. 30/59 (De Gezamenlijke Steenkolenmijnen v. High Authority) [1961] ECR 1.
Annotation: Chevallier, 33 Revue Générale de Droit International Public 546–580 (1962).
] ECR 1, 15.
Judgment Nos. 42 and 49/59 (SNUPAT v. High Authority) id. 53, 74.
Judgment No. 75/69 (Hake v. Commission) [ 1970 ] ECR 535, 542.
Judgment No. 30/59 (De Gezamenlijke Steenkolenmijnen v. High Authority) [ 1961 ] ECR 1, 15.
Judgment Nos. 10 and 18/68 (Eridania v. Commission) [ 1969 ] ECR 459, 483.
Judgment No. 15/70 (Chevalley v. Commission) [ 1970 ] ECR 975, 979.
Advocate General Dutheillet de Lamothe in Judgment Nos. 9 & 11/71 (Compagnie d’Approvisionnement… v. Commission) [ 1972 ] ECR 409, 414.
Advocate General Reischl in Judgment No. 134/73 (Holtz & Willemsen v. Council) [ 1974 ] ECR 12, 14.
Opinion of Advocate General Roemer in Judgment No. 40/64 (Sgarlata v. Commission) [1965] ECR 229, 234. See also his remark in Judgment No. 103/63 (Rhenania v. Commission) [ 1964 ] ECR 430, 433–434.
Judgment Nos. 7/54 & 9/54 (Groupement des Industries Sidérurgiques Luxembourgeoises v. High Authority) [1954–56] ECR 175, 189; Nos. 8/54 & 10/54 (Association des Utilisateurs de Charbon du Grand Duché de Luxembourg v. High Authority) id. 227, 240; No. 12/63 (Schlieker v. High Authority) [ 1963 ] ECR 85, 89.
Judgment No. 12/63 (Schlieker v. High Authority) [ 1963 ] ECR 85, 89. So also Advocate General Roemer in the same Judgment, id. 91, 92.
Mattkies, Empfiehlt es sich, die Bestimmungen des Europäischen Gemeinschaftsrechts über den Rechtsschutz zu ändern und zu ergänzen? Verhandlungen des Sechsundvierzigsten Deutschen Juristentages (Essen 1966) Band II, G 55, G 73.
Judgment No. 22/70 (Commission v. Council) [1971] ECR 263 (AETR); No. 81/72 (Commission v. Council) [ 1973 ] ECR 575 (Remuneration); No. 70/74 (Commission v. Council) [1975] ECR 795.
See the remark of Advocate General Roemer in Judgment No. 7/71 (Commission v. French Republic) [ 1971 ] ECR 1023, 1036.
Advocate General Gand in Judgment No. 48/65 (Lütticke v. Commission) [ 1966 ] ECR 28, 30.
Judgment No. 22/70 (Commission v. Council) [ 1971 ] ECR 263, 277.
E.g., Judgment No. 15/71 (Mackprang v. Commission) [1971] ECR 797, 804; No. 42/71 (Nordgetreide v. Commission) [ 1972 ] ECR 105, 110–111; No. 134/73 (Holtz & Willemsen v. Council) [1974] ECR 1, 11.
Judgment No. 17/57 (De Gezamenlijke Steenkolenmijnen v. High Authority) [ 1959 ] ECR 1, 8.
Judgment No. 17/57, cit. supra, id.
Judgment Nos. 41 and 50/59 (Hamborner Bergbau… v. High Authority) [ 1960 ] ECR 493, 505.
Judgment No. 17/57 (De Gezamenlijke Steenkolenmijnen v. High Authority) [ 1959 ] ECR 1, 8.
Advocate General Roemer in Judgment Nos. 7/54 and 9/54 (Groupement. des Industries Sidérurgiques Luxembourgeoises v. High Authority) [1954–56] 204, 208.
Judgment No. 17/57 (De Gezamenlijke Steekolenmijnen v. High Authority) [ 1959 ] ECR 1, 8.
Advocate General Lagrange in the Judgment, cit. supra, id. 9, 14.
Protocol of the Statute of the Court of Justice of the ECSC Article 22, para. 2; of the EEC Article 19, para. 2; of Euratom Article 19, para. 2.
Article 38(4).
Judgment No. 8/56 (ALMA v. High Authority) [1957–58] ECR 95, 98.
The case law of the Court seems not conclusive on this point. Cf. for example, Judgment Nos. 7/54 & 9/54 (Groupement des Industries Sidérurgiques Luxembourgeoises v. High Authority) [1954–56] ECR 175, 193 with Judgment Nos. 32 & 33/58 (SNUPAT v. High Authority) [1959] ECR 127, 138. See further the Court’s observation in Judgment Nos. 5–11 & 13–15/62 (San Michele v. High Authority) [ 1962 ] ECR 449, 460.
Judgment Nos. 42 & 49/59, [1961] ECR 53, 74; see further, Judgment No. 42/58 (SAFE v. High Authority) [1959] ECR 183, 191; Nos. 32/58 & 33/58 (SNUPAT v. High Authority) id. 127, 138; Nos. 21–26/61 (Meroni… v. High Authority) [ 1962 ] ECR 73, 77.
Judgment Nos. 5–11 and 13–15/62 (San Michele v. High Authority) [ 1962 ] ECR 449, 459.
Advocate General Gand in Judgment No. 48/65 (Lütticke v. Commission) [ 1966 ] ECR 28, 29.
E.g., Barav, Considérations sur la spécfcité du recours en carence en droit, 11 Revue Trimestrielle de Droit Européen 53, 61 (1975); Daig in von der Groeben-Boeckh-Thiesing, Kommentar zum EWG-Vertrag 252; Toth, The Law as it Stands on the Appeal for Failure to Act,.. Legal Issues of European Integration 65, 83 (1975).
Judgment No. 48/65 (Lütticke v. Commission) [1966] ECR 19, 27; No. 6/70 (Borromeo v. Commission) [1970] ECR 815, 819; No. 15/70 (Chevalley v. Commission) id. 975, 979; No. 42/71 (Nordgetreide v. Commission) [1972] ECR 105, 110–111; No. 134/73 (Holtz & Willemsen v. Council) [ 1974 ] ECR 1, 11.
Judgment No. 48/65, [1966] ECR 19.
] ECR 19, 27
Judgment No. 125/78 (GEMA v. Commission) [ 1979 ] ECR 3179, 3190 confirms the view that a non-binding act of a Community institution terminates an inaction within the meaning of Article 175 of the EEC Treaty, even if the plaintiff sought by this action for default to obtain a Commission decision to be addressed to a third person.
Advocate General Gand in Judgment 48/65 (Lütticke v. Commission) [1966] ECR 28.
Id. 31. 50. Id. 31. 51. Id. 32.
Judgment No. 15/70, [1970] ECR 975.
Id. 980.
Judgment No. 42/71 (Nordgetreide v. Commission) [1972] ECR 105.
Id. 110.
Id.
Confirmed by Judgment No. 90/78 (Granaria v. Council and Commission) [ 1979 ] ECR 1081, 1092–3.
Advocate General Gand in Judgment No. 6/70 (Borremeo v. Commission) [ 1970 ] ECR 820, 821.
Advocates General Gand, id. 821; Mayras in Order Nos. 109 & 114/75 (National Carbonizing Company v. Commission) [ 1977 ] ECR 382, 384.
Judgment Nos. 5–11 and 13–15/62 (San Michele… v. High Authority) [ 1962 ] ECR 449, 459–460.
Judgment Nos. 7/54 and 9/54 (Groupement des Industries Sidérurgiques Luxembourgeoises v. High Authority) [1954–56] ECR 175, 189, speaks rather generally of interests of the plaintiff Advocate General Roemer in the same Judgment, 204, 214–215, who speaks explicitly of “direct and special interests” of the plaintiff.
Judgment Nos. 41 and 50/59 (Hamborner Bergbau, Thyssen Bergbau… v. High Authority) [ 1960 ] ECR 493, 505.
Judgment No. 75/69 (Hake v. Commission) [1970] ECR 535.
Id. 542.
Id. 543.
Judgment No. 21–26/61 (Meroni… v. High Authority) [ 1962 ] 73, 78.
So also Advocate General Roemer in Judgment Nos. 41/59 and 50/59 (Hamborner Bergbau and Thyssen Bergbau v. High Authority) [1960] ECR 513, 519–20; Judgment No. 21–26/61 (Meroni… v. High Authority) [1962] ECR 79, 81; Judgment Nos. 10 and 18/68 (Eridania v. Commission) [ 1969 ] ECR 484, 494.
Judgment No. 21–26)61 (Meroni… v. High Authority) [ 1962 ] ECR 73, 78.
Advocate General Roemer in Judgment Nos. 10 and 18/68 (Eridania) [ 1969 ] ECR 484, 494.
ECSC Treaty Article 35, para. 3.
EEC Treaty Article 175, para. 2; Euratom Treaty Article 148, para. 2.
Judgment No. 59/70 (Netherlands v. Commission) [1971] ECR 639.
Id. 653–4.
Judgment No. 59/70 ( Netherlands v. Commission ) [ 1971 ]
Advocate General Roemer in Judgment Nos. 7/54 & 9/54 (Groupement des Industries Sidérurgiques Luxembourgeoises v. High Authority) [1954–56] ECR 204, 209.
See, however, Toth, The Law as it Stands on the Appeal for Failure to Act, 2 The Legal Issue of Integration 65, 76 (1975).
Judgment Nos. 19/60, 21/60, 2/61 and 3/61 (Société Fives, Lille Cail… v. High Authority) [ 1961 ] ECR 281, 294.
Roemer, Die Untätigkeitsklage im Recht der Europäischen Gemeinschaften, 14 Sociaal Economische Wetgeving 1, 14 (1966); see however, Telchini, “Le recours en carence”, in Dix ans de jurisprudence de la Cour de justice des Communautés Européennes 381 (1965).
Judgment Nos. 7/54 and 9/54 (Groupement des Industries Sidérurgiques Luxembourgeoises y. High Authority) [1954–56] ECR 175, 192; No. 30/59 (I)e Gezamenlijke Steenkolenmijnen y. High Authority) [ 1961 ] ECR 1, 16.
Sec supra.
Judgment No. 22/70 (Commission v. Council) [ 1971 ] ECR 263, 277.
Houben, Les Conseils des Ministres des Communautés Européennes 203.
Advocate General Roemer in Judgment No. 7/71 ( Commission v. France ) [ 1971 ]
Gerickc, Allgemeine Rechtssetzungsbefugnisse nach Artikel 235 EWG Vertrag, 70 who excludes an action for default on such grounds.
Wolf, Le recours en carence dans le droit des Communautés Européennes, [ 1966 ] Revue du Marché Commun 111, 119 (No. 891.
Judgment No. 22/70 (Commission v. Council) [ 1971 ] ECR 263, 277.
EEC Treaty Article 149, para. I.
Judgment No. 134/73 (Holtz & Willemsen v. Council) [ 1974 ] ECR 1, 11. 68. Advocate General Reischl in the Judgment, cit. supra, id. 12, 16.
Louis, Les Règlements de la Communauté Economique Européenne 7.
This aspect’ is, for example, overlooked by Merkel, Rat und Kommission im Rechtssetzungsverfahren der Europäischen Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft 53–54, when considering an invitation of the Council, within the meaning of Article 152, to be identical with a request to act, under Article 175.
Judgment No. 22/70 (Commission v. Council) [ 1971 ] ECR 263, 279.
Judgment No. 6/70 (Borromeo v. Commission) [1970] ECR 815, 818–9; No. 15/70 (Chevalley v. Commission) id. 975, 980.
Judgment No. 15/71 (Mackprang v. Commission) [1971] ECR 797, 804; No. 42/71 (Nordgetreide v. Commission) [1972] ECR 105, 110–111; No. 134/73 (Holtz & Willcrosen v. Council) [ 1974 ] ECR 1. 11. Annotation Nicolaysen: 9 Europarecht 153–163 (1974); Judgment No. 90/78 (Granaria v. Council and Commission) [1979] ECR 1081. 1092–3.
Judgment No. 48/65 ( Lütticke v. Commission ) [ 1966 ]
See supra, note 93.
But thus Ehle, Reformbedürftigkeit der Rechtsschutzbestimmungen des Vertrages der Euro-
Thus, for example, Advocate General Gand in Judgment No. 48/65 (Lütticke v. Commission) [ 1966 ] ECR 28, 30.
Judgment No. 22/70 ( Commission v. Council ) [ 1971 ]
Danner, Die Klagemöglichkeit privater Personen gegen Massnahmen der Kommission, die an Mitgliedstaaten gerichtet sind, nach Art. 173 Abs. 2 EWG-Vertrag 54; Ehle, Klage-und Prozessrecht des EWG-Vertrages, Kommentar, p. 10, No. 26; Matthies, Empfiehlt es sich, die Bestummungen des europäischen Gemeinschaftsrechts über den Rechtsschutz zu ändern und zu ergänzen, Verhandlungen des 46. Deutschen Juristentages, Band II (Sitzungsberichte), Teil G, G 64–65; Roemer, Die Untätigkeitsklage im Recht der Europäischen Gemeinschaften, 14 Sociaal Economische Wetgeving 1, 10 (1966); Wolf, Le recours en carence dans le droit des Communautés Européennes, [1966] Revue du Marché Commun 111, 121 (No. 89).
Thus, for example, Judgment Nos. 7/54 and 9/54 (Groupement des Industries Sidérurgiques Luxembourgeoises v. High Authority) [1954–56] ECR 175, 194.
Advocate General Gand in Case No. 48/65 (Lütticke v. Commission) [ 1966 ] ECR 28, 30.
The French text of Article 189, para. 4 of “La décision est obligatoire… pour les destinataire qu’elle désigne.” Emphasis added. And so does the German version “Die Entscheidung ist… für diejenigen verbindlich, die sie bezeichnet.”
Thus, for example, Judgment Nos. 106 and 107/63 (Toepfer and Getreide-Import Gesellschaft v. Commission) [1965] ECR 405, 412, confirmed by Judgment No. 100/74 (CAM v. Commission) [ 1975 ] ECR 1393, 1403.
E.g., Judgment No. 15/70 (Chevalley v. Commission) [ 1970 ] ECR 975, 979.
Thus Judgment Nos. 7/54 and 9/54 (Groupement des Industries Sidérurgiques Luxembourgeoises v. High Authority) [1954–56] ECR 175, 191; No. 6/60 (Humblet v. Belgian State) [1960] ECR 559, 572; No. 8–11/66 (Cimenteries CBR… y. Commission) [ 1967 ] ECR 75, 92.
Judgment No. 22/60 (Commission y. Council) [1971] ECR 263.
Judgment No. 8/71 (Deutscher Komponistenverband v. Commission) id. 705.
Opinion in Judgment No. 103/63 (Rhenania v. Commission) [ 1964 ] ECR 430, 433.
Opinion in Judgment No. 8/71, [1971] ECR 712, 715. Advocate General Roemer stated this view already previously in his article Die Untätigkeitsklage im Rechte der Europäischen Gemeinschaften, 14 Sociaal Economische Wetgeving 1, 13–14 (1966).
Opinion in Judgment No. 48/65 (Liitticke v. Commission) [ 1966 ] ECR 28, 30.
Judgment No. 103/63, [ 1964 ] ECR 425, 429.
Judgment No. 48/65, [ 1966 ] ECR 19, 27.
Judgment No. 15/70, [ 1970 ] ECR 975, 979. Emphasis added.
Judgment No. 8/71, [1971] ECR 705.
Id. 712 at p. 715. 116. Id.
Judgment No. 22/70 (Commission v. Council) [ 1971 ] ECR 263, 276–7.
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Bebr, G. (1981). Action for Default. In: Development of Judicial Control of the European Communities. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-9019-0_3
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