(Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Cour de cassation (France))

(Regulation (EC) No 44/2001 – Section 5 of Chapter II – Jurisdiction over individual contracts of employment – Section 2 of Chapter II – Special jurisdiction – Article 6(1) – More than one defendant)

Summary of the Judgment

Judicial cooperation in civil matters – Jurisdiction and the enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters – Regulation No 44/2001 – Jurisdiction over individual contracts of employment – More than one defendant

(Council Regulation No 44/2001, Art. 6(1))

The rule of special jurisdiction provided for in Article 6(1) of Regulation No 44/2001 on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters cannot be applied to a dispute falling under Section 5 of Chapter II of that regulation concerning the jurisdiction rules applicable to individual contracts of employment.

It is apparent from Article 18(1) of that regulation and, moreover, from a literal interpretation of Section 5, supported by the ‘travaux préparatoires’ relating to the regulation, that the court having jurisdiction in proceedings concerning an individual contract of employment must be designated in accordance with the jurisdiction rules laid down in that section, rules which, on account of their specific and exhaustive nature, cannot be amended or supplemented by other rules of jurisdiction laid down in that regulation unless specific reference is made thereto in Section 5.

As regards the possibility that only an employee may rely on Article 6(1) of the regulation, that would run counter to the wording of both that provision and Section 5 of Chapter II of that regulation. The transformation by the Community courts of the rules of special jurisdiction, aimed at facilitating sound administration of justice, into rules of unilateral jurisdiction protecting the party deemed to be weaker would go beyond the balance of interests which the Community legislature has established in the law as it currently stands. Furthermore, such an interpretation would be difficult to reconcile with the principle of legal certainty, which is one of the objectives of the regulation and which requires, in particular, that rules of jurisdiction be interpreted in such a way as to be highly predictable.

S36Renvoi(see paras 19-24, 32-33, 35, operative part)

—

22 May 2008 (*)

(Regulation (EC) No 44/2001 – Section 5 of Chapter II – Jurisdiction over individual contracts of employment – Section 2 of Chapter II – Special jurisdiction – Article 6, point 1 – More than one defendant)

In Case C‑462/06,

REFERENCE for a preliminary ruling under Article 234 EC from the Cour de cassation (France), made by decision of 7 November 2006, received at the Court on 20 November 2006, in the proceedings

Glaxosmithkline,

Jean-Pierre Rouard,

THE COURT (First Chamber),

composed of P. Jann (Rapporteur), President of the Chamber, A. Tizzano, A. Borg Barthet, M. Ilešič and E. Levits, Judges,

Advocate General: M. Poiares Maduro,

Registrar: C. Strömholm, Administrator,

having regard to the written procedure and further to the hearing on 15 November 2007,

after considering the observations submitted on behalf of:

–Glaxosmithkline and Laboratoires Glaxosmithkline, by B. Soltner, avocat,

–the French Government, by G. de Bergues and A.-L. During, acting as Agents,

–the German Government, by M. Lumma, acting as Agent,

–the Italian Government, by I.M. Braguglia, acting as Agent, and by W. Ferrante, avvocato dello Stato,

–the United Kingdom Government, by Z. Bryanston-Cross, acting as Agent, and by A. Howard, barrister,

–the Commission of the European Communities, by A.‑M. Rouchaud-Joët, acting as Agent,

after hearing the Opinion of the Advocate General at the sitting on 17 January 2008,

gives the following

1This reference for a preliminary ruling relates to the interpretation of Article 6, point 1, and Section 5 of Chapter II of Council Regulation (EC) No 44/2001 of 22 December 2000 on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters (OJ 2001 L 12, p. 1; ‘the Regulation’).

2The reference was made in the course of proceedings between Mr Rouard and Glaxosmithkline and Laboratoires Glaxosmithkline, established in the United Kingdom and France respectively, considered by Mr Rouard, by virtue of a term in his contract of employment, to have been his joint employers and from which he seeks the payment of various amounts by way of compensation for dismissal and damages for wrongful breach of that contract.

Legal context

European Union law

Directive 2011/92

3Recitals 7 to 9 of Directive 2011/92 state:

‘(7) Development consent for public and private projects which are likely to have significant effects on the environment should be granted only after an assessment of the likely significant environmental effects of those projects has been carried out. …

(8) Projects belonging to certain types have significant effects on the environment and those projects should, as a rule, be subject to a systematic assessment.

ECLI:EU:C:2025:140

(9) Projects of other types may not have significant effects on the environment in every case and those projects should be assessed where the Member States consider that they are likely to have significant effects on the environment.’

4Article 2(1) of that directive provides:

‘Member States shall adopt all measures necessary to ensure that, before development consent is given, projects likely to have significant effects on the environment by virtue, inter alia, of their nature, size or location are made subject to a requirement for development consent and an assessment with regard to their effects on the environment. Those projects are defined in Article 4.’

5Under Article 3(1) of that directive:

‘The environmental impact assessment shall identify, describe and assess in an appropriate manner, in the light of each individual case, the direct and indirect significant effects of a project on the following factors:

…

(b)biodiversity, with particular attention to species and habitats protected under [Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (OJ 1992 L 206, p. 7), as amended by Council Directive 2013/17/EU of 13 May 2013 (OJ 2013 L 158, p. 193) (“Directive 92/43”)] and Directive 2009/147/EC [of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds (OJ 2010 L 20, p. 7)];

…’

6Article 4 of Directive 2011/92 provides:

‘1. Subject to Article 2(4), projects listed in Annex I shall be made subject to an assessment in accordance with Articles 5 to 10.

(a)a case-by-case examination;

(b)thresholds or criteria set by the Member State.

Member States may decide to apply both procedures referred to in points (a) and (b).

Where a case-by-case examination is carried out or thresholds or criteria are set for the purpose of paragraph 2, the relevant selection criteria set out in Annex III shall be taken into account. Member States may set thresholds or criteria to determine when projects need not undergo either the determination under paragraphs 4 and 5 or an environmental impact assessment, and/or thresholds or criteria to determine when projects shall in any case be made subject to an environmental impact assessment without undergoing a determination set out under paragraphs 4 and 5.

4Where Member States decide to require a determination for projects listed in Annex II, the developer shall provide information on the characteristics of the project and its likely significant effects on the environment. The detailed list of information to be provided is specified in Annex IIA. The developer shall take into account, where relevant, the available results of other relevant assessments of the effects on the environment carried out pursuant to Union legislation other than this Directive. The developer may also provide a description of any features of the project and/or measures envisaged to avoid or prevent what might otherwise have been significant adverse effects on the environment.

5The competent authority shall make its determination, on the basis of the information provided by the developer in accordance with paragraph 4 taking into account, where relevant, the results of preliminary verifications or assessments of the effects on the environment carried out pursuant to Union legislation other than this Directive. The determination shall made available to the public and:

(a)where it is decided that an environmental impact assessment is required, state the main reasons for requiring such assessment with reference to the relevant criteria listed in Annex III; or

(b)where it is decided that an environmental impact assessment is not required, state the main reasons for not requiring such assessment with reference to the relevant criteria listed in Annex III, and, where proposed by the developer, state any features of the project and/or measures envisaged to avoid or prevent what might otherwise have been significant adverse effects on the environment.

6Member States shall ensure that the competent authority makes its determination as soon as possible and within a period of time not exceeding 90 days from the date on which the developer has submitted all the information required pursuant to paragraph 4. In exceptional cases, for instance relating to the nature, complexity, location or size of the project, the competent authority may extend that deadline to make its determination; in that event, the competent authority shall inform the developer in writing of the reasons justifying the extension and of the date when its determination is expected.’

7Annex II.A of that directive contains the list of ‘information to be provided by the developer on the projects listed in Annex II’. That list reads as follows:

1.‘1. A description of the project, including in particular:

(a)a description of the physical characteristics of the whole project and, where relevant, of demolition works;

(b)a description of the location of the project, with particular regard to the environmental sensitivity of geographical areas likely to be affected.

2.A description of the aspects of the environment likely to be significantly affected by the project.

3.A description of any likely significant effects, to the extent of the information available on such effects, of the project on the environment resulting from:

(a)the expected residues and emissions and the production of waste, where relevant;

(b)the use of natural resources, in particular soil, land, water and biodiversity.

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JUDGMENT OF 6. 3. 2025 – CASE C-41/24 WALTHAM ABBEY RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

(9) Projects of other types may not have significant effects on the environment in every case and those projects should be assessed where the Member States consider that they are likely to have significant effects on the environment.’

Directive 2014/52

9Recitals 11 and 29 of Directive 2014/52 state:

(11)‘(11) The measures taken to avoid, prevent, reduce and, if possible, offset significant adverse effects on the environment, in particular on species and habitats protected under [Directive 92/43] and Directive 2009/147 …, should contribute to avoiding any deterioration in the quality of the environment and any net loss of biodiversity, in accordance with the [European] Union’s commitments in the context of the [United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, signed in Rio de Janeiro on 5 June 1992,] and the objectives and actions of the Union Biodiversity Strategy up to 2020 laid down in the [Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions] of 3 May 2011 entitled ‘Our life insurance, our natural capital: an EU biodiversity strategy to 2020’ [(COM(2011) 244 final)]

…

(29)When determining whether significant effects on the environment are likely to be caused by a project, the competent authorities should identify the most relevant criteria to be considered and should take into account information that could be available following other assessments required by Union legislation in order to apply the screening procedure effectively and transparently. In this regard, it is appropriate to specify the content of the screening determination, in particular where no environmental impact assessment is required. Moreover, taking into account unsolicited comments that might have been received from other sources, such as members of the public or public authorities, even though no formal consultation is required at the screening stage, constitutes good administrative practice.’

Directive 92/43

10Article 6(3) of Directive 92/43 provides:

‘Any plan or project not directly connected with or necessary to the management of the site but likely to have a significant effect thereon, either individually or in combination with other plans or projects, shall be subject to appropriate assessment of its implications for the site in view of the site’s conservation objectives. In the light of the conclusions of the assessment of the implications for the site and subject to the provisions of paragraph 4, the competent national authorities shall agree to the plan or project only after having ascertained that it will not adversely affect the integrity of the site concerned and, if appropriate, after having obtained the opinion of the general public.’

11Article 12(1) of that directive provides:

‘Member States shall take the requisite measures to establish a system of strict protection for the animal species listed in Annex IV(a) in their natural range, prohibiting:

(a)all forms of deliberate capture or killing of specimens of these species in the wild;

(b)deliberate disturbance of these species, particularly during the period of breeding, rearing, hibernation and migration;

(c)deliberate destruction or taking of eggs from the wild;

(d)deterioration or destruction of breeding sites or resting places.’

12Point (a) of Annex IV to that directive mentions ‘all species’ of bats belonging to the suborder of ‘microchiroptera’.

Irish law

It should be pointed out, at the outset, that the Regulation now replaces in Member States’ relations the Convention of 27 September 1968 on Jurisdiction and the Enforcement of Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters (OJ 1978 L 304, p. 36), as amended by the Convention of 9 October 1978 on the Accession of the Kingdom of Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (OJ 1978 L 304, p. 1, and – amended version – p. 77), by the Convention of 25 October 1982 on the Accession of the Hellenic Republic (OJ 1982 L 388, p. 1), by the Convention of 26 May 1989 on the Accession of the Kingdom of Spain and the Portuguese Republic (OJ 1989 L 285, p. 1) and by the Convention of 29 November 1996 on the Accession of the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden (OJ 1997 C 15, p. 1) (‘the Brussels Convention’).

15The rules of jurisdiction over individual contracts of employment contained in the Regulation differ appreciably from the rules applicable in that field under the Brussels Convention.

16In the Brussels Convention the only specific rule concerning contracts of employment was introduced in 1989. That rule appeared in Section 2 of Title II of that convention, concerning special jurisdiction, and had been added in the form of a particular case of the jurisdiction rule laid down in Article 5, point 1, of the Brussels Convention in matters relating to a contract.

17In the Regulation, jurisdiction over individual contracts of employment is the subject of a specific section, namely Section 5 of Chapter II. That section, which contains Articles 18 to 21 of the Regulation, seeks to ensure that employees are afforded the protection referred to in recital 13 of the preamble thereto.

18As maintained, or at least acknowledged, by Glaxosmithkline and Laboratoires Glaxosmithkline, the French, German, Italian and United Kingdom Governments and the Commission of the European Communities, it is apparent from the wording of the provisions of Section 5 that they are not only specific but also exhaustive.

19Thus, it is clear from Article 18, point 1, of the Regulation, first, that any dispute concerning an individual contract of employment must be brought before a court designated in accordance with the jurisdiction rules laid down in Section 5 of Chapter II of that regulation and, second, that those jurisdiction rules cannot be amended or supplemented by other rules of jurisdiction laid down in that regulation unless specific reference is made thereto in Section 5 itself.

20Article 6, point 1, of the Regulation falls not within Section 5 of Chapter II of the Regulation but within Section 2 thereof.

21Article 6, point 1, of the Regulation is not referred to at all in Section 5, unlike Article 4 and Article 5, point 5, of the Regulation, the application of which is preserved expressly by Article 18(1) thereof.

22The rule of jurisdiction laid down in Article 6, point 1, of the Regulation is also not the subject of a corresponding provision in Section 5, unlike the rule laid down in Article 6, point 3, concerning the case of counter‑claims, which has been incorporated in Article 20, point 2, of that regulation.

23It is therefore clear that a literal interpretation of Section 5 of Chapter II of the Regulation leads to the conclusion that that section precludes any recourse to Article 6, point 1, thereof.

24That interpretation is, moreover, supported by the ‘travaux préparatoires’. The proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters (OJ 1999 C 376 E, p. 1) states, in relation to Section 5 of Chapter II of the proposed regulation, which was adopted as it stood by the Community legislature, that ‘[t]he jurisdiction conferred by this Section is substituted for that conferred by Sections 1 [General provisions] and 2 [Special jurisdiction]’.

25In their written observations, the French, German and Italian Governments claim, none the less, that a teleological interpretation of the Regulation, taking account of its objectives, could lead to allowing Article 6, point 1, of the Regulation to apply in matters relating to contracts of employment.

26Thus, the Italian Government submits that the purpose of Article 6, point 1, of the Regulation, which is to preclude the risk of irreconcilable judgments, implies that that provision should be applicable to all types of disputes, including therefore those concerning contracts of employment.

27It is true that the application of Article 6, point 1, of the Regulation to contracts of employment would make it possible to extend to disputes relating to such contracts the possibility of bringing, before the same court, related claims concerning more than one defendant. Such an extension, like that effected expressly by the Community legislature in Article 20, point 2, of the Regulation in relation to counter-claims, would reflect the general objective of sound administration of justice, which implies observance of the principle of economy of procedure.

28However, it is settled case-law that the rules of special jurisdiction must be interpreted strictly and cannot be given an interpretation going beyond the cases expressly envisaged by the Regulation (see, inter alia, in relation to Article 6, point 1, of the Regulation, Case C‑103/05 Reisch Montage [2006] ECR I‑6827, paragraph 23, and Case C‑98/06 Freeport [2007] ECR I‑0000, paragraph 35). As has been noted in paragraph 23 of this judgment, the wording of the provisions of Section 5 of Chapter II of the Regulation precludes the application of Article 6, point 1, in disputes concerning matters relating to contracts of employment.

29Moreover, sound administration of justice would imply that any possibility of relying on Article 6, point 1, of the Regulation should be open, as in the case of counter-claims, both to employees and to employers.

30Such an application of Article 6, point 1, of the Regulation could give rise to consequences contrary to the objective of protection, which the insertion in that regulation of a specific section for contracts of employment sought specifically to ensure.

31Reliance by an employer on Article 6, point 1, of the Regulation could thus deprive the employee of the protection afforded to him by Article 20, point 1, of that regulation, according to which proceedings can be brought against an employee only in the courts of the Member State in which he is domiciled.

32As regards the possibility, suggested by the French and German Governments, of interpreting Article 6, point 1, of the Regulation as meaning that only an employee should be able to rely on that provision, it must be pointed out that that would run counter to the wording of the provisions of both Article 6, point 1, and Section 5 of Chapter II of that regulation. In addition, there would be no reason to restrict the protective logic of such an argument to Article 6, point 1, alone, and it would be necessary to accept that employees, and they alone, should be able to rely on any rule of special jurisdiction provided for in that regulation which could serve their individual interests. The transformation by the Community courts of the rules of special jurisdiction, aimed at facilitating sound administration of justice, into rules of unilateral jurisdiction protecting the party deemed to be weaker would go beyond the balance of interests which the Community legislature has established in the law as it currently stands.

33Therefore, as regards the Community provisions currently in force, an interpretation such as that suggested by the French and German Governments would be difficult to reconcile with the principle of legal certainty, which is one of the objectives of the Regulation and which requires, in particular, that rules of jurisdiction be interpreted in such a way as to be highly predictable, as stated in recital 11 in the preamble to the Regulation, (see, inter alia, as regards Article 6, point 1, of the Regulation, Reisch Montage, paragraphs 24 and 25, and Freeport, paragraph 36).

34It must also be pointed out that the Regulation, in its current version, notwithstanding the objective of protection referred to in recital 13 in the preamble thereto, does not afford particular protection to an employee in a situation such as Mr Rouard’s since, as a claimant before the national courts, there is no rule of jurisdiction available to him that is more favourable than the general rule laid down in Article 2, point 1, of the Regulation.

35In those circumstances, the answer to the question referred must be that the rule of special jurisdiction provided for in Article 6, point 1, of the Regulation cannot be applied to a dispute falling under Section 5 of Chapter II of that regulation concerning the jurisdiction rules applicable to individual contracts of employment.

Costs

36Since these proceedings are, for the parties to the main proceedings, a step in the action pending before the national court, the decision on costs is a matter for that court. Costs incurred in submitting observations to the Court, other that the costs of those parties, are not recoverable.

On those grounds, the Court (First Chamber) hereby rules:

The rule of special jurisdiction provided for in Article 6, point 1, of Council Regulation (EC) No 44/2001 of 22 December 2000 on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters cannot be applied to a dispute falling under Section 5 of Chapter II of that regulation concerning the jurisdiction rules applicable to individual contracts of employment.

[Signatures]

* * *

(*1) Language of the case: French.