30.8.2008

Official Journal of the European Union

C 223/24

(Case C-247/08)

(2008/C 223/37)

Language of the case: German

Referring court

Parties to the main proceedings

Applicant: Gaz de France — Berliner Investissement SA

Defendant: Bundeszentralamt für Steuern

Questions referred

1.Must Article 2(a) in conjunction with paragraph (f) of the Annex to Council Directive 90/435/EEC of 23 July 1990 on the common system of taxation applicable in the case of parent companies and subsidiaries of different Member States be interpreted as meaning that for the purposes of the directive a French company taking the legal form of a ‘société par actions simplifiée’ may be regarded even for the years prior to 2005 as ‘company of a Member State’ with the result that in respect of a profit distribution effected by its Germany subsidiary in 1999 the former company is entitled to an exemption from withholding tax in accordance with Article 5(1) of Directive 90/435/EEC?

2.In the event that Question 1 is answered in the negative: Inasmuch as Article 2(a) in conjunction with paragraph (f) of the Annex to Council Directive 90/435/EEC of 23 July 1990 on the common system of taxation applicable in the case of parent companies and subsidiaries of different Member States together with Article 5(1) of the same directive in the event of a profit distribution by a German subsidiary establishes an exemption from withholding tax in favour of French parent companies taking the legal form of a ‘société anonyme’, ‘société en commandite par actions’ or ‘société à responsabilite limitee’ not, however, French parent companies taking the legal form of a ‘société par actions simplifiée’ do such provisions infringe Articles 43 EC and 48 EC or Article 56(1) EC and Article 58(1)(a) and (3) EC?

(1) OJ 1990 L 225, p. 6.