Procureur de la Republique v Marie-Helene Ferey, nee Hericotte. [1985] EUECJ R-215/84 (25 September 1985)

Procureur de la Republique v Marie-Helene Ferey, nee Hericotte. [1985] EUECJ R-215/84 (25 September 1985)

National rules imposing minimum retail prices for fuel are not in themselves contrary to Articles 3(f), 5, 85, and 86 of the EEC Treaty, but are contrary to Article 30 if the minimum price is fixed solely on the basis of national ex-refinery prices linked to national cost prices, when European rates differ by more than 8%.

Citation
[1985] EUECJ R-215/84
Parties
Public Prosecutor: Procureur de la République; Civil Party: Syndicat National des Gerants Libres (SNGL); Civil Party: Chambre Syndicale Nationale du Commerce et de la Reparation Automobile (CSNCRA); Civil Party: Bernard Thomas; Civil Party: Jacques Bruneau; Civil Party: Michel Le Breton; Civil Party: Pierre Parent; Civil Party: Gerard Guillemin; Civil Party: Guy Loisellier; Civil Party: Eduard Szelag; Accused: Marie-Helene Ferey, née Hericotte; Defendant in Civil Proceedings: Société ERG
Jurisdiction
European Union
Judgment Date
25 September 1985
Procedural Posture
Preliminary Ruling (reference for Interpretation) / Judgment on Preliminary Reference
Outcome
Preliminary ruling issued; national rules not per se prohibited except as specified under Article 30 EEC Treaty.
Legal Topics
Minimum Pricing, Fuel Price Regulation, Free Movement of Goods, Competition Rules, Interpretation of EEC Treaty
European Union Law Competition Law Internal Market Minimum Pricing Fuel Price Regulation Free Movement of Goods Competition Rules Interpretation of EEC Treaty

Case Brief

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Parties

Procureur de la République

Public Prosecutor

Syndicat National des Gerants Libres (SNGL)

Civil Party

Chambre Syndicale Nationale du Commerce et de la Reparation Automobile (CSNCRA)

Civil Party

Bernard Thomas

Civil Party

Jacques Bruneau

Civil Party

Michel Le Breton

Civil Party

Pierre Parent

Civil Party

Gerard Guillemin

Civil Party

Guy Loisellier

Civil Party

Eduard Szelag

Civil Party

Marie-Helene Ferey, née Hericotte

Accused

Société ERG

Defendant in Civil Proceedings

Procedural Posture

Preliminary Ruling (reference for Interpretation) / Judgment on Preliminary Reference

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether national rules imposing minimum retail prices for fuel are compatible with Articles 3(f), 5, 30, 85, and 86 of the EEC Treaty

Ratio Decidendi

National rules imposing minimum retail prices for fuel are not in themselves contrary to Articles 3(f), 5, 85, and 86 of the EEC Treaty, but are contrary to Article 30 if the minimum price is fixed solely on the basis of national ex-refinery prices linked to national cost prices, when European rates differ by more than 8%.

Court Disposition

Preliminary ruling issued; national rules not per se prohibited except as specified under Article 30 EEC Treaty.

Orders

  • Articles 3(f), 5, 85, and 86 EEC Treaty do not prohibit national rules providing for a minimum price for retail sale of fuel.
  • Article 30 EEC Treaty prohibits such rules where the minimum price is fixed solely on the basis of ex-refinery prices of national refineries, linked to ceiling prices based solely on national cost prices, when European fuel rates are more than 8% above or below those prices.