Judgment of the Court (Eighth Chamber) of 11 July 2024 (request for a preliminary ruling from the Sąd Rejonowy Katowice – Zachód w Katowicach – Poland) – Skarb Państwa – Dyrektor Okręgowego Urzędu Miar w K. v Z. sp.j.

(Case C-279/23,  (1) Skarb Państwa (Payment not significantly delayed or small claim))

(Reference for a preliminary ruling - Combating late payment in commercial transactions - Directive 2011/7/EU - Article 6(1) - Fixed minimum sum by way of compensation for recovery costs - Provision of national law permitting the rejection of claims for payment of that fixed sum in cases where the delay is not significant or the claim is small - Obligation to interpret national law in conformity with EU law)

(C/2024/5203)

Language of the case: Polish

Referring court

Sąd Rejonowy Katowice – Zachód w Katowicach

Parties to the main proceedings

Applicant: Skarb Państwa – Dyrektor Okręgowego Urzędu Miar w K.

Defendant: Z. sp.j.

Operative part of the judgment

Article 6(1) of Directive 2011/7/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 on combating late payment in commercial transactions

must be interpreted as precluding a practice by the national courts which consists in dismissing actions seeking to obtain the fixed minimum sum by way of compensation for recovery costs provided for in that provision, on the ground that the delay by the debtor in making payment is negligible or that the amount of the claim concerned by the delay by the debtor in making payment is small.

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(1)   OJ C 286, 14.8.2023.