Judgment of the Court (First Chamber) of 14 December 2006 – Commission v Austria

(Case C‑257/05)

Failure of a Member State to fulfil obligations – Infringement of Article 49 EC – Freedom to provide services – Obligation of establishment within the national territory in order to be able to provide an inspection service for boilers and pressure tanks (‘Kesselprüfstelle’)

Freedom to provide services – Restrictions (Art. 49 EC) (see paras 20-34, operative part)

Re:

Operative part

The Court:

1.Declares that, by providing in Paragraph 21(4) of the Federal law on the security measures for steam or other vapour generating boilers, pressure vessels, containers and pipes [Bundesgesetz über Sicherheitsmaßnahmen für Dampfkessel, Druckbehälter, Versandbehälter und Rohrleitungen (Kesselgesetz)] that only applicants established in Austria may be approved as boiler inspection bodies, the Republic of Austria has failed to fulfil its obligations under Article 49 EC;

2.Orders the Republic of Austria to pay the costs.