Judgment of the Court (Third Chamber) of 27 June 2013 — Commission v France

(Case C‑485/11)

Failure of a Member State to fulfil obligations — Electronic communications networks and services — Directive 2002/20/EC — Article 12 — Administrative charges applicable to undertakings holding general authorisations — National legislation — Electronic telecommunications operators — Requirement to pay an additional charge

Approximation of laws — Telecommunications sector — Electronic communications networks and services — Authorisation — Directive 2002/20 — Article 12 — Scope — Tax with a chargeable event linked to the general authorisation procedure or to the grant of a right of use of radiofrequencies or numbers — Included — Tax with a chargeable event linked to the operator’s activity of providing electronic communications services to final users in the Member State concerned — Not included (European Parliament and Council Directive 2002/20, Art. 12) (see paras 26, 29-31)

Re:

Failure of a Member State to fulfil obligations – Infringement of Article 12 of Directive 2002/20/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on the authorisation of electronic communications networks and services (OJ 2002 L 108, p. 21) – Charges applicable to undertakings holding general authorisations – Compatibility of national legislation introducing an additional charge on electronic telecommunications operators.

Operative part:

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders the European Commission to pay the costs;

3. Orders the Kingdom of Spain and Hungary to bear their own costs.