Exceptions to the Free Movement of Goods

Every rule has its 1. They can be found either in the legal provisions laying down the rule, or in the 2 of the rule by the courts. The same applies to the basic 3 concerning the free movement of goods in the Union. The Treaty provides for several exceptions to this 4.

The most important concerns the 5 of quantitative restrictions 6 having equivalent effect. Restrictions on imports, exports and 7 may be justified on grounds of public morality, 8 or public security, the protection of health and life of humans, animals and plants, the protection of 9 possessing artistic, historic or archaeological value or the protection of industrial and 10.

It should be noted that, according to the relevant 11, the prohibition or 12 may not constitute a means of arbitrary 13 or disguised restriction on trade between Member States. The Court also considered that those exceptions are not designed to reserve certain matters to the 14 of the Member States. They permit national laws to derogate from the principle of the free movement of goods to the extent to which such 15 is and continues to be justified for the attainment of the objectives referred to and where Union directives provide for the 16 of the national measures necessary to safeguard those objectives, recourse to the exceptions will automatically be excluded.

The TEFU provides that in case difficulties arise in a Member State, the Council may decide upon measures appropriate to the 17, in particular if they arise in the supply of certain products. Such measures could have effects equivalent to 18.

1. Where can lawyers find exceptions to the legal rules?

2. What is the most important exception to the free movement of goods?

3. Name reasons for the justification of some restrictions on the free movement of goods in the Union.

4. What do such restrictions permit in the field of national laws? What do they prohibit?

5. What measures could have effects equivalent to quantitative restrictions?

Exercise 8. In the text in this exercise certain parts have been taken out and reshuffled. Restore the text by filling in the gaps meaningfully. What information does the text contain?

Theory and Reality of the Free Movement of Goods

A solutions to complaints by consumers and enterprises

B boasts a high level of transparency

C part of the public administration

D attempts to find solutions

E disputes between consumers and enterprises

F regards the complaint

G the proposed solution acceptable

H is responsible for settling the dispute

In order to solve informally 1 on the one hand, and public authorities on the other, the Commission created the Internal Market Problem Solving Network (SOLVIT). It is an online network which helps find out-of-court 2 regarding the misappropriation of internal market laws by public authorities. Each Member State and the EFTA EEA countries have a SOLVIT centre which networks with the other centres forming 3 in which it is located. Each centre is connected to a central database, which 4 and makes it possible to monitor performance and the progress made. It has been operational since November 2003. It is free of charge and 5 within a short 10-week deadline; if a centre 6 received from a customer or enterprise as justified, it forwards it to the SOLVIT centre in the country where the problem has arisen for it to be solved within 10 weeks. The solutions proposed are not binding; if the customer does not consider 7, it may recommend that the dispute be resolved through the courts. The Member State concerned 8, but if it does not take action, the Commission reserves the right to initiate proceedings.

Research task

Exercise 9. Find out additional information about SOLVIT centres in the EU.

Writing

Exercise 10. Write a ‘for’ and ‘against’ composition about the free movement of goods within the EU.

Exercise 11. Write a plan and a short summary of the text.

Speaking

Exercise 12. Divide into two groups and discuss the prospects of the free movement of goods within the EU from a pessimistic point of view and from an optimistic point of view.

Unit 6

THE FREE MOVEMENT OF PERSONS

Discussion

1. In your opinion, is it fair to restrict a person’s desire to live in the country he/she likes?

2. In what way and to what extent can a person be deprived of such an opportunity?

3. Is restricting a person’s right to the residence of his/her choice in any way related to discrimination?

4. Is discrimination a national (municipal) or international legal concept?

5. How is the right to residence and freedom of movement related to the basic human freedoms?

6. How much (if at all) do you already know about the free movement of persons in the European Union?

Legal Terms

1	free movement of persons	свобода передвижения лиц
2	self-employed	владелец, хозяин собственного бизнеса; самозанятое лицо, лицо, работающее на себя (аналог в РФ - индивидуальный предприниматель)
3	national	гражданин
4	border check	пограничная проверка
5	asylum [ә‘sailәm]	(политическое) убежище
6	invoke in purely national situations	применять исключительно во внутригосударственных ситуациях
7	right of residence	право проживания, пребывания
8	valid identity card	юридически действительное (имеющее законную силу и надлежаще оформленное) удостоверение личности
9	sickness insurance cover	полис медицинского страхования
10	permanent residence	постоянное место жительства/проживания
11	expulsion measure	мера по изгнанию, высылке, выселению (из страны)
12	stand as candidate in municipal elections	выдвигать (свою) кандидатуру на внутригосударственных выборах
13	enjoy the protection of diplomatic and consular authorities	пользоваться защитой дипломатических и консульских должностных лиц
14	petition Parliament	подавать прошение, ходатайство в Парламент
15	European Ombudsman	Европейский омбудсмен, Европейский уполномоченный по правам человека
16	advisory bodies	совещательные органы
17	facilitate free movement of citizens	способствовать свободе перемещения граждан
18	passport of uniform pattern	паспорт единого образца
19	abolition of controls at common/inner frontiers	отмена контроля на общих/внутренних границах
20	signatory	сигнатарий: подписавшаяся сторона, подписавшееся государство
21	Convention Implementing the Schengen Agreement (CISA)	Конвенция о применении Шенгенского соглашения (о постепенной отмене проверок на общих границах)
22	DNA fingerprint	ДНК фингерпринт, профиль ДНК индивидуума (набор рестрикционных фрагментов ДНК, характерный для данного индивидуума; для получения "отпечатка" используют либо гель-электрофорез как таковой, либо в сочетании с ПЦР-амплификацией)
23	contracting parties	договаривающиеся стороны, страны-участницы, контрагенты
24	Schengen Information System (SIS)	Шенгенская информационная система
25	right of establishment	право учреждения: право открыть частную практику, организовать частный бизнес или предприятие
26	confer unlimited rights	наделять неограниченными правами
27	principle of equal treatment	принцип, доктрина равного обращения, равноправного режима
28	host Member State	принимающее государство-член, принимающее государство-участник
29	labour mobility	мобильность рабочей силы
30	enhance employment	повышать, увеличивать уровень занятости
31	tangible aspects of European integration	ощутимые, реальные практически осуществимые аспекты Европейской интеграции
32	certificate of inscription	именной сертификат, именной документ
33	annex to the law	дополнение к закону
34	refuse access to a country	отказать во въезде в страну, воспрещать въезд в страну
35	public policy	публичный порядок
36	public order	общественный порядок
37	public health	здравоохранение
38	valid residence permit	юридически действительное (надлежаще оформленное) разрешение на проживание (аналог регистрации по месту жительства в РФ)