Case C-84/11

Marja-Liisa Susisalo and Others

(Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Korkein hallinto-oikeus)

(Article 49 TFEU — Freedom of establishment — Public health — Pharmacies — National licensing scheme for the operation of pharmacies — Establishment of branch pharmacies — Conditions which differ according to whether the pharmacy is a private pharmacy or a University of Helsinki pharmacy — University of Helsinki Pharmacy having specific tasks in connection with pharmacy teaching and pharmaceutical services)

Summary of the Judgment

1.        Preliminary rulings — Jurisdiction of the Court — Limits — Question raised regarding a dispute within a single Member State — Jurisdiction in the light of the possible applicability of the rule of European Union law to the dispute by reason of a prohibition or discrimination laid down by national law

(Arts 49 TFEU and 267 TFEU)

2.        Member States — Retained powers — Adjustment of social security systems — Limits — Compliance with European Union law — Protection of public health — Discretion of the Member States

3.        Freedom of establishment — Restrictions — National legislation requiring prior authorisation for the opening of new pharmacies in a given region — Body of rules more favourable to the university pharmacy of a Member State than to private pharmacies — Lawfulness — Conditions — To be determined by the national court

(Art. 49 TFEU)

1.        See the text of the decision.

(see paras 19-22)

2.        See the text of the decision.

(see paras 27-29)

3.        Article 49 TFEU must be interpreted as not precluding a national law providing for a licensing scheme for the operation of branch pharmacies specific to the university pharmacy of a Member State that is more favourable than that applicable to private pharmacies, provided that, which it is for the referring court to determine, the branches of that pharmacy actually participate in the accomplishment of the specific tasks relating to the teaching of pharmacy students, research in pharmaceutical services and the manufacture of rare pharmaceutical preparations conferred on the latter by national law.

(see para. 44, operative part)