Keywords
Summary

Keywords

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1 . Member States - Obligations - Obligation to penalize infringements of Community law - Scope

( EEC Treaty, Art . 5 )

2 . Transport - Road transport - Social provisions - Application by the Member States - Introduction of strict criminal liability of the employer for infringements committed by his employees - Whether permissible - Conditions

( Regulation No 543/69 of the Council, Arts 7(2 ) and 11 )

Summary

1 . Where Community legislation does not specifically provide any penalty for an infringement or refers for that purpose to national laws, regulations and administrative provisions, Article 5 of the Treaty requires the Member States to take all measures necessary to guarantee the application and effectiveness of Community law .

For that purpose, whilst the choice of penalties remains within their discretion, they must ensure in particular that infringements of Community law are penalized under conditions, both procedural and substantive, which are analogous to those applicable to infringements of national law of a similar nature and importance and which, in any event, make the penalty effective, proportionate and dissuasive .

2 . Neither Regulation No 543/69 on the harmonization of certain social legislation relating to road transport nor the general principles of Community law preclude the application of national provisions under which an employer whose drivers infringe Articles 7(2 ) and 11 of the regulation may be the subject of a criminal penalty notwithstanding the fact that the infringement cannot be imputed to an intentional wrongful act or to negligence on the employer' s part, on condition that the penalty provided for is similar to those imposed in the event of infringement of provisions of national law of similar nature and importance and is proportionate to the seriousness of the infringement committed .