This document is an excerpt from the EUR-Lex website
Precedence of European law
Precedence of European law
Precedence of European law
Judgment of the Court of 15 July 1964 — Flaminio Costa v ENEL
In a preliminary ruling* regarding the EEC Treaty (now the Treaty on European Union and Treaty on the Functioning of the EU), the Court clarified the following.
Developments before and after the judgment
In another landmark case, in 1963, the Court of Justice had already established an equally important and complementary general principle of EU law: the direct effect principle.
The Court later clarified the scope of the precedence principle in its case-law*.
In a declaration concerning primacy, annexed to the Final Act of the Intergovernmental Conference that adopted the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the conference:
Judgment of the Court of 15 July 1964, Flaminio Costa v ENEL, Case 6–64 (English special edition 1964 00585).
Conference that adopted the Treaty of Lisbon, signed on 13 December 2007 — A. Declarations concerning provisions of the Treaties — 17. Declaration concerning primacy (OJ C 115, 9.5.2008, p. 344).
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union of 13 December 2007 — consolidated version (OJ C 202, 7.6.2016, pp. 47–360).
Judgment of the Court (First Chamber) of 12 April 1984, Wünsche Handelsgesellschaft GmbH & Co. v Federal Republic of Germany. Reference for a preliminary ruling: Verwaltungsgericht Frankfurt am Main — Germany. Preserved mushrooms — Protective measures. Case 345/82 (European Court Reports 1984 01995).
Judgment of the Court of 9 March 1978, Amministrazione delle Finanze dello Stato v Simmenthal SpA. Reference for a preliminary ruling: Pretura di Susa — Italy. Discarding by the national court of a law contrary to Community law. Case 106/77 (European Court Reports 1978 00629).
Judgment of the Court of 17 December 1970, Internationale Handelsgesellschaft mbH v Einfuhr- und Vorratsstelle für Getreide und Futtermittel. Reference for a preliminary ruling: Verwaltungsgericht Frankfurt am Main — Germany. Case 11–70 (European Court reports 1970 01125).
last update 22.10.2021