Lecture II: Effects of EU law on national order

Van Gend en Loos

individuals can invoke EU law in national court (direct effect)

Costa v. ENEL

Supremacy of EU law (effectiveness)

Simmenthal II

National courts must disapply national law that conflicts with EU law

National courts= decentralized EU court

Principle of loyalty 

art 4(3) TEU 

MS must ensure full effect of EU law

Principle of loyalty application

• Supremacy

• Direct effect

• Indirect effect

• State liability

Grad

Decision- Direct effect

Munoz

Regulation- Direct effect

Van Gend en Loos/ Walrave 

Treaty= Direct effect 

Marshall

Directive- Only vertical direct effect

Indirect effect

Consistent interpretation

National courts must interpret national law in line with directives

Limits of Indirect effect

Only after implementation deadline (Adeneler)

Cannot create/ aggravate criminal liability (Kolpinghuis)

Fundamental Rights 

have direct effect if clear and unconditional 

Dansk Industri

art 21 CFR has horizontal direct effect

State liability

Brasserie de Pecher

• Sufficiently serious breach

• Breached rule must confer individual rights

• Causal link between breach and damage

Relationship with direct and indirect effect 

• First try indirect effect. if not possible, then… 

• Direct effect (only in vertical disputes)