JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

(Second Chamber)

of 15 July 2004

in Joined Cases C-37/02 and C-38/02 (references for a preliminary ruling by the Tribunale amministrativo regionale per il Veneto): Di Lenardo Adriano Srl and Dilexport Srl v Ministero del Commercio con l'Estero (1)

(Bananas - Common organisation of the market - Regulation (EC) No 896/2001 - Common system of trade with third countries - Primary imports - Validity - Protection of legitimate expectations - Retroactivity - Implementing power)

(2004/C 228/06)

Language of the case: Italian

In Joined Cases C-37/02 and C-38/02: references to the Court under Article 234 EC for a preliminary ruling by the Tribunale amministrativo regionale per il Veneto (Italy) in the proceedings pending before that court between Di Lenardo Adriano Srl (C-37/02), Dilexport Srl (C-38/02) and Ministero del Commercio con l'Estero on the validity of Articles 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 31 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 896/2001of 7 May 2001 laying down detailed rules for applying Council Regulation (EEC) No 404/93 as regards the arrangements for importing bananas into the Community (OJ 2001 L 126, p. 6) — the Court (Second Chamber), composed of: C.W.A. Timmermans, President of the Chamber, J.-P. Puissochet and R. Schintgen (Rapporteur), F. Macken and N. Colneric, Judges; C. Stix-Hackl, Advocate General; L. Hewlett, Principal Admininistrator, for the Registrar, has given a judgment on 15 July 2004, in which it has ruled:

Consideration of the questions referred for a preliminary ruling have disclosed nothing to affect the validity of Articles 1, 3, 4, 5, 6(c) and 31 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 896/2001 of 7 May 2001 laying down detailed rules for applying Council Regulation (EEC) No 404/93 as regards the arrangements for importing bananas into the Community.

(1)  OJ C 97 of 20.4.2002.