Reports of Cases

2006 I-04635

Subject-matter

Failure of a Member State to fulfil obligations ─ Bringing of an action by Ireland against the United Kingdom before the Arbitral Tribunal established under the United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea ─ Infringement of the exclusive jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice ─ Breach of the duty of cooperation

Systematic classification scheme

Citations of case-law or legislation

References in grounds of judgment

• Euratom Treaty (Rome), Article 142 : paragraph 152
• Euratom Treaty (Rome), Article 192 : paragraphs 59, 172, 174, 182
• Euratom Treaty (Rome), Article 193 : paragraphs 59, 152, 153
• EC Treaty (Maastricht), Article 130S -P1 : paragraph 97
• EC Treaty (Amsterdam), Article 10 : paragraphs 59, 168, 169, 171, 172, 174, 182
• EC Treaty (Amsterdam), Article 174 -P1T4 : paragraph 91
• EC Treaty (Amsterdam), Article 175 -P1 : paragraphs 90, 91
• EC Treaty (Amsterdam), Article 176 : paragraph 92
• EC Treaty (Amsterdam), Article 220 : paragraphs 123, 133
• EC Treaty (Amsterdam), Article 227 : paragraphs 128, 136, 138, 152
• EC Treaty (Amsterdam), Article 243 : paragraph 138
• EC Treaty (Amsterdam), Article 292 : paragraphs 59, 80, 123, 127 - 130, 133, 152, 153, 169 - 171
• EC Treaty (Amsterdam), Article 300 -P7 : paragraph 81
• Agreement with Third Countries or International Bodies - 21998A0403(01) : paragraphs 119 - 121, 147
• Agreement with Third Countries or International Bodies - 21998A0403(01) -A09 : paragraph 118
• Agreement with Third Countries or International Bodies - 21998A0403(01) -N7 : paragraphs 122, 136
• Agreement with Third Countries or International Bodies - 21998A0623(01) : paragraphs 2, 82, 83, 86, 124, 128
• Agreement with Third Countries or International Bodies - 21998A0623(01) -A122 : paragraph 9
• Agreement with Third Countries or International Bodies - 21998A0623(01) -A123 : paragraphs 9, 89, 117
• Agreement with Third Countries or International Bodies - 21998A0623(01) -A192 : paragraphs 10, 89, 114
• Agreement with Third Countries or International Bodies - 21998A0623(01) -A193 : paragraphs 10, 89, 114
• Agreement with Third Countries or International Bodies - 21998A0623(01) -A194 : paragraphs 10, 89, 114
• Agreement with Third Countries or International Bodies - 21998A0623(01) -A197 : paragraphs 89, 117
• Agreement with Third Countries or International Bodies - 21998A0623(01) -A204 : paragraph 11
• Agreement with Third Countries or International Bodies - 21998A0623(01) -A205 : paragraph 11
• Agreement with Third Countries or International Bodies - 21998A0623(01) -A206 : paragraphs 11, 89, 111
• Agreement with Third Countries or International Bodies - 21998A0623(01) -A207 : paragraphs 12, 89, 114
• Agreement with Third Countries or International Bodies - 21998A0623(01) -A211 : paragraphs 12, 89, 114
• Agreement with Third Countries or International Bodies - 21998A0623(01) -A213 : paragraphs 12, 89, 114
• Agreement with Third Countries or International Bodies - 21998A0623(01) -A282 : paragraphs 14, 125, 132
• Agreement with Third Countries or International Bodies - 21998A0623(01) -A286 : paragraph 15
• Agreement with Third Countries or International Bodies - 21998A0623(01) -A287 : paragraph 15
• Agreement with Third Countries or International Bodies - 21998A0623(01) -A287P1LC : paragraph 130
• Agreement with Third Countries or International Bodies - 21998A0623(01) -A288 : paragraph 15
• Agreement with Third Countries or International Bodies - 21998A0623(01) -A290 : paragraphs 16, 138
• Agreement with Third Countries or International Bodies - 21998A0623(01) -A293 : paragraphs 17, 149, 155
• Agreement with Third Countries or International Bodies - 21998A0623(01) -A293P1 : paragraph 148
• Agreement with Third Countries or International Bodies - 21998A0623(01) -A296 : paragraphs 18, 129
• Agreement with Third Countries or International Bodies - 21998A0623(01) -N9 : paragraph 19
• Agreement with Third Countries or International Bodies - 21998A0623(01) -N9A04P3 : paragraph 100
• Directive 80/836 : paragraphs 147, 150
• Directive 85/337 : paragraphs 111, 112, 115, 119, 147, 150
• Directive 90/313 : paragraphs 117, 119, 147
• Directive 92/3 : paragraph 147
• Directive 93/75 : paragraph 116
• Directive 96/29 : paragraphs 147, 150
• Decision 98/392 : paragraphs 3, 5, 6, 82, 97, 98
• Decision 98/392 -A01 : paragraph 7
• Decision 98/392 -A01P3 : paragraphs 8, 99
• Decision 98/392 -N2 : paragraphs 8, 104, 105, 107, 109
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -22/70 : paragraphs 94, 100, 105
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -232/78 : paragraph 137
• Court of Justice - Opinion 1/91 : paragraph 123
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -300/98 : paragraph 175
• Court of Justice - Opinion 1/00 : paragraph 123
• Court of Justice - Opinion 2/00 : paragraphs 90, 92, 95
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -13/00 : paragraphs 84, 85, 121
• Court of Justice - Opinion 1/03 : paragraph 174
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -239/03 : paragraphs 95, 121
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -344/04 : paragraph 82

Operative part

• Reference : Euratom Treaty (Rome), Article 192
• Reference : Euratom Treaty (Rome), Article 193
• Reference : EC Treaty (Amsterdam), Article 10
• Reference : EC Treaty (Amsterdam), Article 292

Opinion

• Euratom Treaty (Rome), Article 136 : point 8
  
• Euratom Treaty (Rome), Article 142 : point 8
  
• Euratom Treaty (Rome), Article 192 : points 1, 56, 57, 59, 61
  
• Euratom Treaty (Rome), Article 192 -L2 : point 53
  
• Euratom Treaty (Rome), Article 193 : points 1, 2, 9, 10, 13 - 15, 43 - 45, 52, 53, 61
  
• EC Treaty (Maastricht), Article 130S : point 27
  
• EC Treaty (Amsterdam), Article 10 : points 1, 15, 56, 57, 59, 61
  
• EC Treaty (Amsterdam), Article 10 -L2 : points 53 - 55
  
• EC Treaty (Amsterdam), Article 220 : point 8
  
• EC Treaty (Amsterdam), Article 227 : points 8, 39
  
• EC Treaty (Amsterdam), Article 243 : point 39
  
• EC Treaty (Amsterdam), Article 292 : points 1, 2, 9, 10, 13 - 15, 41, 42, 44, 45, 52, 53, 55, 61
  
• Agreement with Third Countries or International Bodies - 21998A0403(01) : point 44
  
• Agreement with Third Countries or International Bodies - 21998A0623(01) -A282 : points 1, 17, 27, 28, 37, 39, 41, 43, 6139
  
• Agreement with Third Countries or International Bodies - 21998A0623(01) -A293P1 : points 47, 48, 50
  
• Agreement with Third Countries or International Bodies - 21998A0623(01) -N7 : point 42
  
• Directive 80/836 : point 44
  
• Directive 85/337 : points 44, 50
  
• Directive 90/313 : point 44
  
• Directive 92/3 : point 44
  
• Directive 96/29 : point 44
  
• Decision 98/392 : point 27
  
• Decision 98/392 -N2 : points 34, 35
  
• Decision 98/429 : point 44
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -22/70 : points 23, 36
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -181/73 : point 21
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -38/75 : point 22
  
• Court of Justice - Opinion C -65/77 : point 22
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -232/78 : point 39
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -104/81 : point 21
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -12/86 : point 21
  
• Court of Justice - Opinion 1/91 : points 10, 21, 41
  
• Court of Justice - Opinion 2/91 : point 36
  
• Court of Justice - Opinion C -53/96 : points 21, 22
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -53/96 : point 22
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -300/98 : points 22, 33
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -466/98 : points 23, 25
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -467/98 : points 23, 25
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -468/98 : points 23, 25
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -472/98 : points 23, 25
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -475/98 : points 23, 25
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -476/98 : points 23, 25
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -88/99 : point 22
  
• Court of Justice - Opinion C -13/00 : point 30
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -13/00 : points 21, 29, 30
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -239/03 : points 21, 29, 31 - 33
  

Dates

Date of the lodging of the application initiating proceedings

• 30/10/2003

Date of the Opinion

• 18/01/2006

Date of the hearing

Information not available

Date of delivery

30/05/2006

References

Publication in the Official Journal

Application: OJ C 7 from 10.01.2004, p.24

Judgment: OJ C 165 from 15.07.2006, p.2

Name of the parties

Commission v Ireland

Notes on Academic Writings

1. Semmelmann, Constanze: Forum shopping between UNCLOS arbitration and EC adjudication - And the winner ... should be ... the ECJ!, European Law Reporter 2006 p.234-241 (EN)
2. Kaiser, Karen: Ausschließliche Zuständigkeit des EuGH bei Auslegung und Anwendung von zum Gemeinschaftsrecht gehörenden Bestimmungen, Europäische Zeitschrift für Wirtschaftsrecht 2006 p.470-472 (DE)
3. Feldmann, Ulrike: Atomrecht, Zeitschrift für Europäisches Umwelt- und Planungsrecht 2006 p.154-156 (DE)
4. Mariatte, Flavien: Accords mixtes et arbitrage: première sanction du "devoir de loyauté au système judiciaire" communautaire, Europe 2006 Juillet Comm. nº 207 p.13-16 (FR)
5. Pogáčová, Juliana: Rozsudok "ROZHODOVACIA PRAX SÚDNEHO DVORA A SÚDU PRVÉHO STUPŇA", Výber z rozhodnutí Súdneho dvora Európskych spoločenstiev 2006 p.60-82 (SK)
6. Lavranos, Nikolaos: Protecting its Exclusive Jurisdiction: the Mox Plant-Judgment of the ECJ, The Law and Practice of International Courts and Tribunals 2006 p.479-493 (EN)
7. Lavranos, Nikolaos: The Mox Plant Ruling of the ECJ: How Exclusive is the Jurisdiction of the ECJ?, European Current Law 2006 Part 10 Focus p.xi-xv (EN)
8. Lavranos, Nikolaos: Freedom of member states to bring disputes before another court or tribunal: Ireland condemned for bringing the MOX plant dispute before an arbitral tribunal. Grand Chamber decision of 30 May 2006, Case C-459/03, Commission v. Ireland, European Constitutional Law Review 2006 Vol.2 p.456-469 (EN)
9. González Campos, Julio D.: Jurisprudencia del Tribunal de Justicia de las Comunidades Europeas. Sentencia de 30 de mayo de 2006, Asunto C-459/03, Comisión de las Comunidades Europeas c. Irlanda, Revista Jurídica de Catalunya - Jurisprudencia 2006 p.1191-1199 (ES)
10. Laso Pérez, Javier: La jurisdicción obligatoria del TJCE y los medios de solución de controversias en los acuerdos mixtos. Comentario a la sentencia del TJCE de 30 de mayo de 2006, C-459/03, Comisión c. Irlanda, Revista General de Derecho Europeo 2006, nº 11, p. 1-33 (ES)
11. Cardwell, Paul James ; French, Duncan: Who decides? The ECJ's Judgment on Jurisdiction in the MOX Plant Dispute, Journal of Environmental Law 2007 Vol.19 p.121-129 (EN)
12. Lavranos, Nikolaos: The scope of the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Justice, European Law Review 2007 p.83-94 (EN)
13. Romano, Cesare P.R.: American Journal of International Law 2007 Vol. 101 nº 1 p.171-178 (EN)
14. Chaltiel, Florence: Chronique de jurisprudence du Tribunal et de la Cour de justice des Communautés européennes. Institution et ordre juridique communautaire, Journal du droit international 2007 p.607-608 (FR)
15. Carreño Gualde, Vicenta: TJCE - Sentencia de 30.05.2006, Comisión/Irlanda, C-459/03, MOX - La Competencia exclusiva del TJCE y la Parte XII de la Convención de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Derecho del Mar, Revista de Derecho Comunitario Europeo 2007 p.185-202 (ES)
16. Kerbrat, Yann ; Maddalon, Philippe: Affaire de l'Usine MOX: la CJCE rejette l'arbitrage pour le règlement des différends entre Etats membres, Revue trimestrielle de droit européen 2007 p.165-182 (FR)
17. Casolari, Federico: La sentenza MOX: la Corte di giustizia delle Comunità europee torna ad occuparsi dei rapporti tra ordinamento comunitario ed ordinamento internazionale, Il diritto dell'Unione Europea 2007 p.327-367 (IT)
18. Neframi, Eleftheria: La mixité éclairée dans l'arrêt "MOX" du 30 mai 2006: une double interaction, un triple apport, Revue du droit de l'Union européenne 2007 nº 3 p.687-713 (FR)
19. Anagnostopoulou, I.: Evropaion Politeia 2007 p.606-609 (EL)
20. Adam, Stanislas: Het Europees Hof van Justitie en andere internationale rechtsprekende organen. Enkele opmerkingen naar aanleiding van het Mox-Fabriek arrest, Revue belge de droit international 2007 p.113-147 (NL)
21. Schrijver, Nico: Case C-459/03, Commission of the European Communities v. Ireland, Judgment of the Court of Justice (Grand Chamber) of 30 May 2006, [2006] ECR I-4635, Common Market Law Review 2010 Vol. 47 nº 3 p.863-878 (EN)
22. Sreenan, Paul: THE STATE IN INTERNATIONAL LITIGATION - THE CAPACITY TO SUE OTHER MEMBER STATES OF THE EU BEFORE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNALS - THE MOX LITIGATION, LAW AND GOVERNMENT: A TRIBUTE TO RORY BRADY (Ed. Thomson Reuters - Dublin) 2014 p.89-106 (EN)
23. Andriantsimbazovina, Joël: 51. Accord mixte - Convention des Nations Unies sur le droit de la mer - Compétence de la Cour de justice - Autonomie du système juridique de l'Union européenne. CJCE, gr. ch., 30 mai 2006, n° C-459/03, Commission c/ lrlande (MOX), Les grands arrêts de la Cour de justice de l'Union européenne. Droit constitutionnel et institutionnel de l'Union européenne (Dalloz, 2e édition) 2023, p. 834-841 (FR)

Procedural Analysis Information

Source of the question referred for a preliminary ruling

Information not available

Subject-matter

• Principles, objectives and tasks of the Treaties
  
• Provisions governing the institutions
  
• Environment
  
• - Pollution
  

Provisions of national law referred to

Information not available

Provisions of international law referred to

Information not available

Procedure and result

• Action for a declaration of failure to fulfil obligations : application granted
  

Formation of the Court

grande chambre (Cour)

Judge-Rapporteur

Timmermans

Advocate General

Poiares Maduro

Language(s) of the Case

• English
  

Language(s) of the Opinion

• Portuguese