27.8.2011

Official Journal of the European Union

C 252/11

(Case C-476/10) (<span class="super">1</span>)

(First subparagraph of Article 104(3) of the Rules of Procedure - Free movement of capital - Article 40 of and Annex XII to the EEA Agreement - Purchase by nationals of the Principality of Liechtenstein of a secondary residence in the Land of Vorarlberg (Austria) - Procedure of prior authorisation - Admissibility)

2011/C 252/22

Language of the case: German

Referring court

Parties to the main proceedings

Re:

Reference for a preliminary ruling — Unabhängiger Verwaltungssenat des Landes Vorarlberg — Interpretation of Article 6(4) of Council Directive 88/361/EEC of 24 June 1988 for the implementation of Article 67 of the Treaty (OJ 1988 L 178, p. 5) — Purchase of a secondary residence, situated in a Member State of the European Union, by nationals of a non-Member State, party to the European Economic Area Agreement (Liechtenstein) — National rules of that Member State making such purchases subject to an authorisation procedure

Operative part of the order

Article 40 of the European Economic Area Agreement of 2 May 1992 must be interpreted as precluding national legislation such as that at issue in the main proceedings which, on the basis of Article 6(4) of Council Directive 88/361/EEC of 24 June 1988 for the implementation of Article 67 of the Treaty (article repealed by the Treaty of Amsterdam), prohibits a national of the Principality of Liechtenstein from purchasing a secondary residence situated in a Member State of the European Union, and therefore national authorities are required not to apply that national legislation.

* Language of the case: German.

(1) OJ C 328, 4.12.2010.