Case C‑454/22

European Commission

v

Republic of Latvia

Judgment of the Court (Ninth Chamber) of 14 March 2024

(Failure of a Member State to fulfil obligations – Article 258 TFEU – Directive (EU) 2018/1972 – European Electronic Communications Code – Failure to transpose and notify transposition measures – Article 260(3) TFEU – Application for the imposition of a lump sum and a penalty payment – Criteria for determining the amount of the penalty)

1. Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Examination of the merits by the Court – Situation to be taken into consideration – Situation on expiry of the period laid down in the reasoned opinion

   (Art. 258 TFEU)

   (see paragraphs 32, 34)

2. Acts of the institutions – Directives – Implementation by Member States – Directive requiring a reference to be made to it in the national transposition measures in view of its transposition – Effect – Obligation for Member States to adopt a positive measure transposing the directive

   (Arts 258 and 288, third para., TFEU; European Parliament and Council Directive 2018/1972, Art. 124(1))

   (see paragraphs 33, 35, 43, operative part 1)

3. Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Judgment of the Court establishing the failure of a Member State to fulfil its obligations – Failure to fulfil the obligation to notify measures transposing a directive – Financial penalties – Lump sum – Periodic penalty payment – Purpose

   (Art. 260(3) TFEU; European Parliament and Council Directive 2018/1972)

   (see paragraph 71)

4. Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Judgment of the Court establishing the failure of a Member State to fulfil its obligations – Failure to fulfil the obligation to notify measures transposing a directive – Financial penalties – Periodic penalty payment – Failure continuing up to the Court’s examination of the facts – Imposition of a penalty payment – Condition – Continued failure to comply by date of delivery of the judgment

   (Art. 260(3) TFEU; European Parliament and Council Directive 2018/1972)

   (see paragraph 72)

5. Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Disregard of the obligations imposed by a directive – Obligation to notify transposition measures – Scope

   (Arts 4(3) and 17 TEU; Art. 260(3) TFEU; European Parliament and Council Directive 2018/1972)

   (see paragraphs 74, 80, 81)

6. Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Judgment of the Court establishing the failure of a Member State to fulfil its obligations – Failure to fulfil the obligation to notify measures transposing a directive – Financial penalties – Discretion of the Court – Criteria

   (Art. 260(3) TFEU; European Parliament and Council Directive 2018/1972)

   (see paragraphs 84-90)

7. Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Judgment of the Court establishing the failure of a Member State to fulfil its obligations – Failure to fulfil the obligation to notify measures transposing a directive – Financial penalties – Lump sum – Calculation of the amount – Criteria – Payment capacity – Gross domestic product of the Member State – Taking into account the institutional weight in the European Union of the Member State concerned – Not included

   (Art. 260(3) TFEU; European Parliament and Council Directive 2018/1972, Art. 124(1))

   (see paragraphs 91, 112, operative part 2)

See the text of the decision.