European Court of Justice (News)

Azarov v Council
External relations
The General Court annuls the freezing of the assets of five Ukrainians, including Mykola Yanovych Azarov and Sergej Arbuzov, former Prime Ministers of Ukraine, for the period from 6 March 2014 to 5 March 2015

Laezza
Freedom of establishment
National rules on betting and gaming may be contrary to the principle of proportionality if they require the licensee to transfer free of charge the equipment used for the collection of bets

Éditions Odile Jacob v Commission
Competition
The Court dismisses Odile Jacob’s appeal in the case concerning Lagardère’s purchase of Vivendi Universal Publishing

Commission v Cyprus
Freedom of movement for persons
Cypriot legislation on pension entitlement which places migrant workers at a disadvantage in relation to those who do not leave Cyprus is contrary to EU law

DHL Express (Italy) and DHL Global Forwarding (Italy)
Competition
In the field of competition law, the leniency programmes of the EU and of the Member States coexist autonomously

Toshiba v Commission
Competition
The General Court upholds the fines of €131 million imposed on Toshiba and Mitsubishi Electric for their participation in the cartel on the market for gas insulated switchgear

The Scotch Whisky Association
Agriculture and fisheries
The Scottish legislation introducing a minimum price per unit of alcohol is contrary to EU law if less restrictive tax measures can be introduced

Poland v Parliament and Council
Principles of Community law
Advocate General Kokott considers the new EU tobacco directive of 2014 to be valid

Air France - KLM
Taxation
VAT is chargeable on unused air tickets which are not refundable

Commission v Greece
SOPO
By allowing doctors to work 24 hours or more consecutively, Greek law infringes EU law

Neptune Distribution
Approximation of laws
The sodium content of natural mineral waters must be calculated on the basis not only of sodium chloride but also of sodium bicarbonate

WebMindLicenses
DFON
The transfer of know-how enabling operation of the erotic site livejasmin.com from Hungary to Madeira where a lower rate of VAT applies does not amount, in itself, to an abusive practice

SNCF v Commission
State aid
The General Court confirms that the State aid in the sum of € 503 million granted by France to Sernam and conditionally approved by the Commission in an earlier decision was wrongfully implemented

Spain v Commission
State aid
The General Court annuls the Commission’s decision that the Spanish tax lease system is an illegal state aid.

Air Canada v Commission
Competition
The General Court annuls the decision by which the Commission imposed fines amounting to approximately €790 million on several airlines for their participation in a cartel on the airfreight market

Solemn undertaking before the Court of Justice of the European Union of the newly-appointed Member of the European Court of Auditors.

Sweden v Commission
Approximation of laws
By failing to adopt measures concerning the specification of scientific criteria for the determination of endocrine-disrupting properties, the Commission has breached EU law

Fútbol Club Barcelona v OHIM (Représentation du contour d'un écusson)
Intellectual and industrial property
The General Court dismisses the action brought by FC Barcelona seeking registration of the outline of its crest as a Community trade mark

Banif Plus Bank
MARI
Foreign exchange transactions which form part of certain types of foreign currency denominated loans do not constitute an investment service

Verein für Konsumenteninformation
Approximation of laws
An increase in telecommunications charges in accordance with a consumer price index does not allow subscribers to withdraw from their contract