Case C‑102/16

Vaditrans BVBA

v

Belgische Staat

(Request for a preliminary ruling from the Raad van State (Belgium))

(Reference for a preliminary ruling — Road transport — Driver’s rest periods — Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 — Article 8(6) and (8) — Whether it is possible to take daily rest periods and reduced weekly rest periods away from base and in a vehicle — Exclusion of regular weekly rest periods)

Summary — Judgment of the Court (Tenth Chamber), 20 December 2017

Transport — Road transport — Social provisions — Weekly rest — Taking of weekly rest period in a vehicle — Precluded — Infringement of the principle of legality in criminal proceedings — No such infringement

(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 49(1); European Parliament and Council Regulation No 561/2006, Art. 8(6))

Article 8(6) and (8) of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2006 on the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport and amending Council Regulations (EEC) No 3821/85 and (EC) No 2135/98 and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 3820/85 must be interpreted as meaning that a driver may not take the regular weekly rest periods referred to in Article 8(6) in his vehicle.

Consideration of the second question referred has disclosed nothing to affect the validity of Regulation No 561/2006, having regard to the principle of legality in criminal proceedings, enshrined in Article 49(1) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

(see operative part 1, 2)