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Súdny dvor Európskej únie·25.11.1999

C-37/98

ECLI:EU:C:1999:579

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Súdny dvor Európskej únie
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61998CC0037

OPINION OF MR LA PERGOLA — CASE C-37/98

OPINION OF ADVOCATE GENERAL LA PERGOLA delivered on 25 November 1999 *

I — Legislative and factual background of a Turkish national who has (a) entered the main proceedings or (b) remained in the territory of a Member State in breach of the immi- gration law of that Member State?

1. By an order of 24 April 1997 of the High 2. If the answer to either part of the first Court of Justice, England and Wales, question is "yes" does (a) Article 13 of Queen's Bench Division, registered at the the Agreement or (b) Article 41 of the Court of Justice on 16 February 1998, this Additional Protocol have direct effect Court is called upon for the first time to within the national legal systems of interpret the rules governing the EC-Turkey Member States? Association with regard to freedom of establishment. The questions referred for a preliminary ruling under Article 177 of the EC Treaty (now Article 234 EC) are as follows: 3. Does the Agreement together with the Additional Protocol prohibit the appli- cation by a Member State of a provi- sion in its national law which refuses that Turkish national leave to remain on the territory of that Member State on the sole ground that his leave to enter or remain in the territory has ' 1 . Is the Agreement establishing an Asso- expired? ciation between the European Eco- nomic Community and Turkey, signed at Ankara on 12 September 1963 ("the Agreement") together with the Addi- tional Protocol to the Agreement signed at Brussels on 23 November 1970 ("the Additional Protocol") to 4. Where, despite the provisions of its be interpreted as conferring benefits on national law, the competent authority in a Member State considers, in the exercise of its discretion, an application * Original language: Italian. by a Turkish national to remain in its

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territory, is that competent authority people, [so as to facilitate] the accession of obliged to take into account the exis- Turkey to the Community at a later date'. 2 tence of the Agreement together with In pursuit of those objectives, the Associa- the Additional Protocol? tion established by the Agreement involves: (i) a preparatory stage to enable Turkey to strengthen its economy with aid from the Community; (ii) a transitional stage for the progressive establishment of a customs union and for the alignment of the eco- nomic policies of the contracting parties; and (iii) a final stage based on the customs 5. If the answer to question four is "yes", union and entailing closer coordination of is the competent authority in the those economic policies. 3 The rules for Member State required to have regard applying the final stage were laid down by to the principle of proportionality in Decision No 1/95 of the EC-Turkey Asso- exercising its discretion? ciation Council. 4

6. If the answer to question five is "yes", what factors are to be taken into account by the competent national authority in determining whether deportation is proportionate?'

Article 13 of the Agreement, cited in the order for reference, appears in Chapter 3 ('Other economic provisions') under Title II ('Implementation of the transitional stage') of the Agreement and provides: 'The Con- tracting Parties agree to be guided by 2. The Agreement was concluded, Articles 52 to 56 and Article 58 of the approved and confirmed on behalf of the Treaty establishing the Community [now Community by Council Decision 64/732/ Articles 43, 44, 45, 46 and 48 EC 5 ] for the EEC of 23 December 1963. 1Its aim is 'to purpose of abolishing restrictions on free- promote the continuous and balanced dom of establishment between them'. strengthening of trade and economic rela- tions between the Parties, while taking full account of the need to ensure an acceler- 2 — Preamble and Article 2(1) of the Agreement. ated development of the Turkish economy 3 — Case 12/86 Demirel v Stadt Schwäbisch Gmünd [1987] and to improve the level of employment ECR 3719, paragraph 15. and the living conditions of the Turkish 4 — Decision No 1/95 of the EC-Turkey Association Council of 22 December 1995 on implementing the final phase of the Customs Union (OJ 1996 L 35, p. 1). 5 — Articles 52, 54 and 56 of the EC Treaty have been amended; Article 53 of the EC Treaty was tepealed by the Treaty of 1 — OJ 1973 C 133, p. 1. Amsterdam.

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3. The Additional Protocol — whereby the Articles 13 and 14 of the Agreement of intention of the parties was to lay down the Association, determine the timetable and conditions, arrangements and timetables rules for the progressive abolition by the for the implementation of the transitional Contracting Parties, between themselves, of stage provided for in the Agreement (see restrictions on freedom of establishment point 2 above) and which replaced the and on freedom to provide services. The protocols originally annexed thereto —· Council of Association shall, when deter- was approved on behalf of the Community mining such timetable and rules for the by Council Regulation (EEC) No 2760/72 various classes of activity, take into account of 19 December 1972. 6In accordance with corresponding measures already adopted Articles 62 and 63(2) of the Additional by the Community in these fields and also Protocol, the latter with its annexes con- the special economic and social circum- stitutes an integral part of the Agreement stances of Turkey. Priority shall be given to and entered into force on 1 January 1973 activities making a particular contribution (the day on which the United Kingdom to the development of production and joined the Community). trade'. 7

Article 41 of the Additional Protocol, the second Community provision cited by the national court, appears in Chapter II ('Right of establishment, services and trans- port') under Title II ('Movement of persons and services') and provides:

The Association Council has not so far '1. The Contracting Parties shall refrain adopted any measures on the basis of from introducing between themselves any Article 41(2) of the Additional Protocol. new restrictions on the freedom of estab- lishment and the freedom to provide ser- vices. 7 — The text of Article 13 of the Agreement is given in point 2 above. According to Article 14, 'The Contracting Parties agree to be guided by Articles 55, 56 and 58 to 65 of the Treaty establishing the Community for the purpose of abolishing restrictions on freedom to provide services between them' [those articles have become, respectively, Articles 45, 46 and 48 to 54 EC (Articles 56, 57, 59. 61, 63 and 64 of the EC Treaty have been amended; Article 62 of the EC Treaty has been repealed by the Treaty of Amster- dam)]. The Association Council — composed, of the one part, of members of the Governments of the Member States, of the Council and of the Commission, and, of the other 2. The Council of Association shall, in part, of members of the Turkish Government — was accordance with the principles set out in established by Article 6 of the Agreement. According to Article 22(1) of the Agreement, 'In order to attain the objectives of this Agreement, the Council of Association shall have the power to take decisions (...). Each of the parties shall take the measures necessary to implement the decisions taken. (...)'. 6 —OJ 1972 L 293, p. 1.

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4. These proceedings arise from the appli- Savas. After Mr Savas had opened a fast cation by Mr Savas, a Turkish national, for food business in December 1992, the IND judicial review by the High Court of Justice resumed contact on 21 July 1993 with the of (i) the decision by the Secretary of State couple's representatives, who supplied fur- for the Home Department ('the Secretary of ther information on several occasions at the State') to refuse him leave to remain in the request of the IND and the Secretary of United Kingdom as a self-employed person, State. and (ii) the decision to enforce the deporta- tion orders previously made against him and his wife, Mrs Savas.

6. On 21 March 1994, the Secretary of State refused the leave requested by Mr and Mrs Savas and served the couple with notice of intention to deport them. In the exercise of his discretionary powers, the Secretary of State considered the couple's application on the basis of the 'long residence concession', whereby a person with 10 years or more of continuous lawful residence in the United Kingdom, or 14 years' continuous residence, whether lawful 5. Mr and Mrs Savas entered the United or not, may be granted indefinite leave to Kingdom on 22 December 1984 on a remain depending on the particular circum- regular tourist visa valid for one month, stances of his case. In the Secretary of expressly subject to a condition prohibiting State's view, however, Mr and Mrs Savas them from working, in either an employed did not meet either of those criteria, nor or self-employed capacity. According to the could they point to any other relevant national court, it is unclear precisely how circumstances justifying the exercise of his Mr and Mrs Savas occupied and main- discretion in their favour, such as special tained themselves between 21 January ties with the host State or possible huma- 1985, when the entry visa expired, and nitarian grounds. the opening by Mr Savas of a shirt factory in November 1989. Mr and Mrs Savas first took action to regularise their stay in the United Kingdom in 1991. By letters of 31 January and 29 May 1991, sent to the Immigration and Nationality Department The couple's appeal against the decision to of the Home Office ('IND'), through their make a deportation order was dismissed by solicitors they applied for leave to remain the Immigration Adjudicator by a determi- in the United Kingdom on the basis of the nation of 13 December 1994. A subsequent- relevant provisions of national law. On application by Mr Savas for leave to appeal 1 July 1991, the IND asked the couple for against that determination before the Immi- information on their financial situation. gration Appeal Tribunal was rejected as out However, owing to an administrative error, of time. Meanwhile, in September 1994, he the IND did not promptly examine subse- had begun to operate his second fast food quent correspondence from Mr and Mrs business. On 31 August 1995, deportation

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orders were served on M r and Mrs Savas, the decision against which these proceed- the effect of which, once implemented, is to ings have been instituted. It follows from prohibit them from re-entering the United that decision that, even if M r Savas's Kingdom for at least three years (save in the interpretation of Article 41 were correct, event of revocation of the deportation it would not assist him in any event. At the orders on strong humanitarian grounds). time of his application to remain as a businessman, Mr Savas no longer had leave to remain in the United Kingdom, and could not therefore derive any rights from H C 510.

7. On 30 October 1995, M r Savas's repre- sentatives invoked Article 41 of the Addi- 8. In the proceedings before the national tional Protocol for the first time in support court, M r Savas argued that Article 41 of of the application for leave to remain. They the Additional Protocol required the Secre- argued that that provision, having direct tary of State to consider his application effect, prevented the United Kingdom from under paragraph 21 of H C 510, applicable imposing further restrictions on the right of to all persons admitted to the United Turkish nationals to establish themselves in Kingdom as visitors at any time, whatever its territory beyond those already in force their status for immigration purposes at the on 1 January 1973, the date of that coun- time of legal proceedings. In the alternative, try's accession to the Community, and he argued that, even if paragraph 21 of H C contained in H C 510, the domestic provi- 510 were deemed not to apply to him, his sion which at that time governed control of application for leave to remain should have immigration subsequent to the entry of been examined on the basis of the preamble foreigners on to national territory. 8 On to and Article 13 of the Association Agree- 1 May 1996, the Secretary of State adopted ment and Article 41 of the Additional Protocol. That examination would have led to the conclusion that, in the circum- 8 — Under paragraph 21 of H C 510, 'People admitted as visitors may apply for the consent of the Secretary of State to their stances of the case, deportation would be a establishing themselves [in the United Kingdom] for the purpose of setting up in business, whether on their own disproportionate penalty for the alleged account or as partners in a new or existing business. Any breach of the national immigration rules. such application is to be considered on its merits. Permission will depend on a number of factors, including evidence that the applicant will be devoting assets of his own to the business, proportional to his interest in it, that he will be able to bear his share of any liabilities the business may incur, and that his share of the profits will be sufficient to support him and any dependants. The applicant's part in the business must not amount to disguised employment, and it must be clear that he will not have to supplement his business activities by employment for which a work permit is required. (...) Where the application is granted, the applicant's stay may be extended for a period of up to 12 months, on a condition restricting his freedom to take employment. A person admitted as a businessman in the first instance may be granted an appropriate extension of stay if the conditions set out above are still satisfied at the 9. In reply, the Secretary of State has stated end of the period for which he was admitted initially.' that the Agreement cannot be relied upon

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by persons who are not lawfully present in duration of his leave to remain for as long a Member State or otherwise entitled by as Mr Savas. national law to apply to enter its territory. Furthermore, persons in Mr Savas's posi- tion cannot in any event invoke the Agree- ment on the strength of Article 41 of the Additional Protocol, since that provision is without direct effect and cannot require the United Kingdom to apply the rules on freedom of establishment for Turkish II — Legal analysis nationals in force on 1 January 1973.

In the alternative, the Secretary of State argues that Mr Savas's claim is unfounded, the wording of paragraph 21 of HC 510 10. I believe it is appropriate to begin the applying only to persons who at the time examination of this case, as the Commis- of the application were lawfully present in sion suggests, with the second question the United Kingdom as visitors. Moreover, referred for a preliminary ruling, in which under paragraph 4 of HC 510, failure to the national court asks whether Article 13 observe the time-limit on his entry visa of the Agreement and Article 41 of the precluded the applicant in any event from Additional Protocol have direct effect. being able to obtain a variation of the Clearly, Mr Savas's claim would fail if the initial leave to remain. 9 Finally, deporta- provisions invoked by him in the proceed- tion could not be a disproportionate pen- ings before the High Court of Justice did alty for a foreigner who has overstayed the not have direct effect or were in any event incapable of directly regulating the position

of individuals. It is settled case-law that a provision in an agreement concluded by the Community with a non-member country must be regarded as being directly effective, and thus immediately applicable, when, regard being had to its wording and to the purpose and nature of the agreement itself, the provision contains a clear and precise obligation which is not subject, in regard to its implementation or its effects, to the adoption of any subsequent measure. 10 9 — Paragraph 4 of H C 510, concerning extension or variation or leave to remain, provided: 'The succeeding paragraphs set out the main categories of people who may tic given limited leave to enter |the United Kingdom! and who may seek

variation of their leave, and the principles to he followed in dealing with their applications, or in initiating any variation of their leave. In deciding these matters, account is to he taken of all the relevant facts; the fact that the applicant 11. First of all, I agree with the Commis- satisfies the formal requirements of these rules for stay or further stay in the proposed capacity is not conclusive in his sion and all the governments which have favour. It will, for example, he relevant whether the person has ohserved the time limit and conditions subiect to which he was admitted; whether in the light of his character, conduct or associations it is undesirable to permit him to remain; whether he represents a danger to national security; 10 — See, for example, Case 12/86 Demirel | 1 9 8 7 | UCR .171'), or whether, if allowed to remain for the period for which he paragraph 14; Case C-18/90 Kztbcr | 1 9 9 l | HCU I-199, wishes to stay, he might not he returnable to another paragraph 15; Case C-162/9(1 Racke | 1 9 9 8 | HCU I-3655, country.' paragraph .11; and Clase C-262/96 Suriil [1999] HCU I-2685, paragraph 60.

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intervened in the proceedings before the Moreover, no time-limit is fixed for the Court that Article 13 of the Agreement (see exercise of that power by the Association point 2 above) is essentially in the nature of Council. 12 a programme. That provision is confined to setting out the principles by which Turkey, the Member States and the Community have agreed to be guided in bringing about, on a gradual and reciprocal basis, freedom of establishment for Community and Turk- ish citizens. It is no accident that, in Demirel, the Court held that Article 12 of By contrast, Article 41(1) of the Additional the Agreement — which concerns the free Protocol (see point 3 above) constitutes a movement of workers and the text of which standstill clause (also concerning the free- is modelled precisely on Article 13 (see dom to provide services) which is entirely footnote 17 below) — does not have direct comparable to that contained in Article 53 effect in the legal systems of the Member of the EC Treaty, inserted (prior to its States. 11 repeal by the Treaty of Amsterdam) under Chapter 2 of Title III, concerning the right of establishment. Concerning that provi- sion, the Court observed in Costa v ENEL: 'The obligation thus entered into by the States simply amounts legally to a duty not to act, which is neither subject to any conditions, nor, as regards its execution or effect, to the adoption of any measure either by the States or by the Commission. It is therefore legally complete in itself and is consequently capable of producing direct effects on the relations between Member States and individuals. Such an express prohibition which came into force with the Treaty throughout the Community, and thus became an integral part of the legal system of the Member States, forms part of 12. As for Article 41 of the Additional the law of those States and directly con- Protocol, paragraph (2) thereof is also cerns their nationals, in whose favour it has merely in the nature of a programme, in created individual rights which national that it merely provides that the Association courts must protect.' 1 3In my view, similar Council has the power to establish, in considerations apply to Article 41(1) of the accordance with the principles set out in Additional Protocol. That rule, in truth, Article 13 of the Agreement and for each also constitutes a clear and precise obliga- category of activity, the timetable and rules tion to produce a result. By its nature, whereby the contracting parties are to therefore, it can be relied upon in proceed- provide for the progressive abolition of restrictions on freedom of establishment. 12 — Contrast Article 36 of the Additional Protocol concerning the progressive achievement of freedom of movement for 11 — See Demirel, cited in footnote 3 above, paragraphs 19 to workers (see footnote 17 below). 25. 13 — Case 6/64 Costa v ENEL [1964] ECR 585, at p. 596.

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ings before the national courts by any prevent certain of its provisions from being person concerned in order to challenge the directly applicable. 15 I therefore conclude, lawfulness, and thus the application, of in relation to the second question referred, legislation adopted by any Member State that Article 41(1) of the Additional Proto- which makes the establishment of Turkish col — unlike Article 13 of the Agree- citizens in its territory subject to further ment — lays down a sufficiently precise restrictions, in addition to those existing on and unconditional rule for the national 1 January 1973. 14 courts to be able to apply it immediately as being suited to regulating the legal position of individuals.

13. The finding that Article 41(1) may directly govern the position of individuals does not appear to be contradicted by consideration of the purpose and nature of the Agreement of which it forms part. The purpose of the Agreement is to estab- lish an association to promote and develop trade and economic relations between the 14. I now turn to the first and third contracting parties — in the field of self- questions referred by the High Court of employment as well, through the progres- Justice, and set out above (point 1), which I sive elimination of restrictions on freedom suggest this Court should examine together. of establishment — with a view to improv- They require definition of the content of ing the standard of living of the Turkish the rights on which a person in Mr Savas's people and facilitating the accession of position may lawfully rely pursuant to Turkey to the Community at a later date Article 41(1) of the Additional Protocol. (see point 2 above). Moreover, the fact that According to the applicant, Article 41(1) the Agreement is intended essentially to refers en bloc to the rules laid down in promote the economic development of Article 52 of the EC Treaty and subse- Turkey and therefore involves an imbalance quently defined in the case-law of the Court in the obligations assumed by the Commu- of Justice. The applicant, in my view, seems nity towards that country is not such as to to be arguing that the position of Turkish nationals is fully assimilated, as regards the benefit of freedom of establishment in the 14 — See also Case C-192/89 Sevince v Staatssecretaris van justitie 19901 ECR I-3461, in which, inter alia, the Court Member States and the right to receive the acknowledged the direct effect of standstill clauses con- same treatment as nationals, to that of cerning the introduction of new restrictions on access to work By migrant Turkish nationals in a lawful position as Community citizens. Since exercise of the regards residence and employment in the territory of the contracting States, contained in Article 7 of Decision freedom at issue in the proceedings neces- No 2/76 of the Association Council of 20 December sarily involves the right of residence for a 1976 on the implementation of Article 12 of the Ankara Agreement and Article 13 of Decision No 1/80 of the Association Council of 19 September 1980 on the devel- opment of the Association (neither decision is published in the Official Journal). 15 — See Sürül, cited in footnote 10 above, paragraphs 69 to 72.

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Turkish migrant in the territory of the however omitted, in contrast to the posi- country of establishment, 1 6Mr Savas tion in relation to the free movement of claims that he (and indirectly his wife as workers, 17 to lay down timetables and well) cannot be made subject to any rules for the planned progressive abolition deportation measure, even if on the of restrictions on the freedom in question, grounds — as in this case — of failure to in implementation of the programme-set- comply with the time-limit on the validity ting provision in the Agreement (see Arti- of the entry visa or the prohibition therein cle 41(2) of the Additional Protocol).

The on taking up employment. He therefore provision having direct effect, to be found maintains that the Court should give an in Article 41(1), cannot therefore provide affirmative answer to the first and third any basis for Mr Savas's claim that the questions. treatment of Turkish professional practi- tioners and businessmen is to be brought fully into line with the principles laid down by the Treaty with regard to the right of establishment. 15. However, I am not swayed by Mr Savas's arguments.

Article 41(1) of the Additional Protocol does not directly con- fer on Turkish nationals a perfect and unconditional right to take up and pursue 16. There is also a further aspect which activities as self-employed persons or to cannot be overlooked. Although, in the establish and run undertakings in member matter of freedom of movement for work- countries, on the conditions laid down by ers, the treatment accorded to migrant the legislation of the host State in relation Turkish nationals must, in accordance with to its own citizens.

The fact remains that, in the case-law of the Court of Justice, be the context of the measures governing the based as far as possible on the principles EC-Turkey Association, there is no provi- sion corresponding to Article 52 in the system established by the Treaty. It is true 17 — See, in particular, Decisions Nos 2/76 and 1/80 (referred to that the contracting parties have under- in footnote 14 above) of the Association Council adopted for the purpose of implementing Article 12 of the Agree- taken to achieve freedom of establishment ment and Article 36 of the Additional Protocol. According to Article 12 of the Agreement: 'The Contracting Parties between themselves, taking as their basis agree to be guided by Articles 48, 49 and 50 of the Treaty for that purpose the relevant provisions of establishing the Community [now Articles 39, 40 and 41 EC, the first two following amendment] for the purpose of

the Treaty. The Association Council has abolishing restrictions on freedom of establishment between them.' Article 36 of the Additional Protocol provided that such freedom of movement was to be secured gradually between the end of the twelfth and the twenty-second year after the entry into force of the 16 — See, inter alia, Sevince, paragraph 29; Case C-237/91 Kus v Agreement, in accordance with the principles set out in Landeshauptstadt Wiesbaden [1992] ECR I-6781, para- Article 12 and the rules necessary to that end determined graphs 29 to 3 3 . See also Case 48/75 Royer [1976] ECR by the Association Council. In particular, Article 1 of Decision N o 2/76 constitutes the first stage in the attain- 497, paragraph 27; Joined Cases C-100/89 and C-101/89 ment of freedom of movement for workers between the Kae fer and Procacci v French State [1990] ECR I-4647, Community and Turkey, which was to take four years paragraph 19; and Case C-370/90 The Queen v Immigra- from 1 December 1 9 7 6 . Subsequently, by Decision tion Appeal Tribunal and Surinder Singh [1992] ECR N o 1/80, the Association Council sought to improve the I-4625, paragraph 17. Conversely, according to the Court, arrangements in the social field for workers and their in the absence of a specific provision conferring on Turkish families in relation to those introduced by Decision workers a right to remain in the territory of a Member N o 2/76 (see the third paragraph in the preamble).

See State after working there, a Turkish national's right of also Decision N o 3/80 of the Association Council of residence, as implicitly but necessarily guaranteed by 19 September 1980 on the application of the social Article 6 of Decision N o 1/80 (see footnote 18 below) as security schemes of the Member States of the European a corollary of legal employment, ceases to exist if the Communities to Turkish workers and members of their person concerned becomes totally and permanently inca- families (OJ 1983 C 110, p. 60), adopted on the basis of pacitated for work (see Case C-434/93 Bozkurt v Staats- Article 39 of the Additional Protocol. secretaris van justitie [1995] ECR 1-1475, paragraph 40).

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arising under Articles 48, 49 and 50 of the respect that 'in contrast to nationals of Treaty, the only workers who may benefit Member States, Turkish workers arc . . . not from those rules, and thus from the rights entitled to move freely within the Commu- modelled on those laid down by the Treaty, nity but benefit only from certain rights in are those who satisfy the requirements laid the host Member State whose territory they down by Decision No 1/80 (i.e. those duly have lawfully entered and where they have registered as belonging to the labour force been in legal employment for a specified of the host Member State who have been period'. 19 In other words, it is undisputed lawfully employed for a certain period). 18 that, by virtue of the Agreement, the The Court of Justice has stated in that position of Turkish workers undoubtedly differs from that of citizens of other non-

member countries. But that still docs not 18 — Sec, inter tilia, Bozknrt, paragraph 20, and Caso C-171/95 Tetik v land Berlin [1997] ECR I-329, paragraphs 20 and mean, in the matter under consideration, 28. Indeed, according to the Court, Member States do nor have the power to render conditional or to restrict the that the Agreement was intended to equate precise and unconditional rights conferred by Decision their position with that of Community N o 1/80 upon Turkish citizens who comply with the requirements set out therein (see, inter aha, Case O 3 6 / 9 6 workers, especially for the purposes of Gimaydin (1997) LCR I-5143, paragraph 39, and Case access to the territory of a Member State C-98/96 Ertamr [1997] LCR I-5179, paragraph 57).

The provisions of Section 1 ('Questions relating to employment and the free movement of workers') of Chapter 11 ('Social and the right to remain there, to obtain provisions') of Decision N o 1/80 — concerning Un- renewal of a work permit and freely to take employment rights m the host Member State of Turkish workers who nave been lawfully employed there for a up any form of employment. 20 By the same given period (Article 6) and members of their families (Article 7) — constitute a further step towards the achieve- token, the Court of Justice has frequently ment of freedom of movement for workers.

Article 6( 1 ) states: 'Subject to Article 7 on free access to employment held that the rules concerning the EC- for members of Ins family, a Turkish worker duly Turkey Association do not affect the power registered as belonging to the labour force of a Member State: of Member States to regulate the entry of — shall be entitled in that Member State, after one year's legal employment, to the renewal of his permit to work for the same employer, if a job is available; — shall be entitled in that Member State, after three years of legal employment and subject to the priority to be given to workers of Member States of the Community, to respond to another offer of employment, with an employer of his choice, made under normal conditions and registered with the employment services of that State, for the same

occupation; — shall enjoy free access in that Member State to any paid employment of his choice, after four years of legal employment.' According to settled case-law, the legality of employment for the purposes of Article 6(1) of Decision No 1/80 — which is to be determined in the light of the legislation of the host State governing the conditions under which the Turkish worker entered the national territory and is employed there (see Bozhurt, cited in footnote 19 above, paragraph 27) —presupposes a stable and secure situation as a member of the labour force of a Member State, and 19 — See Tetik, cited i n footnote 18 above, paragraph 29. thereby implies the existence of an undisputed right of 20 — See the Opinion of Advocate General Darnion in Case residence (sec, for example, Sernice, cited m footnote 14 C-355/9Ì Iroyln v land Baden-Württemberg [1994] KCR above, paragraph 30; and Kus, cited in footnote 16 above, 1-5116, paragraphs 23 to 25. The Advocate General did, it

paragraphs 12 and 22). Thus, the Court has held, periods is true, acknowledge that — since the Agreement, based on of employment cannot, for example, be regarded as legal Article 48 of the Treaty, 'extends progressively to Turkish where they follow the issue of an indefinite residence nationals the ambit of one of the fundamental freedoms of permit by the host Member State obtained only by fraud the Community, namely access to the labour market [and] (inaccurate statements) and, after discovery, the Member therefore pursues the same aim as that pursued by the V.Y_C State convicts the person concerned and rescinds the Treaty in respect of Community nationals' — there was a measure in question. Such periods of employment, during tendency for the status of worker within the meaning of which the Turkish migrant worker was not legally entitled the Association Agreement To be drawn closer to the to a residence permit, cannot be said to be based on a corresponding Comnunmv concept. However, he deduced

stable situation and are thus to be regarded as merely from that premiss merely that the actual concept of provisional. Moreover, in such circumstances, the employ- worker, arising from the Agreement, cannot be interpreted ment of the person concerned cannot give rise to any rights 'very differently' from the Community meaning of worker in his favour or arouse any legitimate expectation on his arising from the case-law of the Court of Justice, at any part (see Case C-285/95 Ko/ v land Berlin [1997] ECR rate in the absence of anything to indicate a restrictive I-3069, paragraphs 21 and 25 to 29). interpretation.

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Turkish citizens to their territory and the paragraphs 18-20 below). They merely conditions of their first employment. 21 undertook to abolish them gradually, although the undertaking was not imple- mented. In the matter of establishment, therefore, the Member States have, in my opinion, maintained their essentially unconditional power to regulate the entry The crucial factor for the purposes of this and residence of Turkish nationals on their Opinion is that the principle of non- territory, the rules for their inclusion in the equivalence which applies to Turkish work- national labour market (see footnote 21 ers must apply a fortiori, for the reasons above), and the position of Turkish work- given above (point 15), to Turkish citizens ers already lawfully active in that market in intending to migrate to the Community in their capacity as professional practitioners order to pursue an activity as self-employed or businessmen. I therefore conclude that

persons. It is true that Article 41(1) of the Mr Savas cannot rely on the direct effect of Additional Protocol, which has direct Article 41(1) of the Additional Protocol in effect, protects self-employed Turkish support of his own alleged right of estab- migrants. However, it does so only in the lishment (and, as an obvious corollary, sense that it prohibits Member States from residence) in British territory. introducing any new provisions, after the entry into force of the Additional Protocol, whereby the establishment of Turkish pro- fessional practitioners and businessmen is made subject to rules less favourable than the treatment previously provided for.

By concluding the Agreement and the Addi- tional Protocol, therefore, the contracting parties did not encroach upon the restric- tions on the freedom in question which already existed on 1 January 1973 (save for the possible impact in this area of the general principle of non-discrimination laid down in Article 9 of the Agreement; see 17. The Commission argues that a person in Mr Savas's position would not be able to 21 — See, inter alia, Kus, cited at footnote 16 above, paragraph claim any rights under Article 41(1), even if 25, and Günaydin, cited at footnote 18 above, paragraph 23, concerning Decision N o 1/80, cited above at footnote his presence in the host Member State were 13, which in the view of the Court merely regulates, particularly in Article 6, cited above at footnote 22, the lawful under national law. I would endorse situation of Turkish workers already integrated into the that point of view. I cannot share the labour force of a Member State. Similarly, the first paragraph of Article 7 of Decision N o 1/80 — whilst unanimous conclusions reached on that providing that the members of the family of a Turkish worker duly registered as belonging to the labour force of a point by the national governments in this Member State are entitled to take up employment in that case. In their view, if a Turkish worker country after being legally resident there for a specified period — does not thereby affect the power of the Member resides in the host Member State by virtue State concerned to authorise any such persons to join the Turkish worker legally employed there, to regulate their of a legitimate entitlement under national stay until they become entitled to respond to any offer of law, that is relevant for the purpose of employment and, if necessary, to allow them, under such conditions as it may specify, to take up employment before assessing the lawfulness of his employment, the expiry of the initial period of three years laid down by the first indent (see Case C-351/95 Kadiman v Freistaat on which the enjoyment by Turkish Bayern [1997] ECR I-2133, paragraph 32). migrants of the specific rights granted by

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A r t i c l e 6 ( 1 ) of D e c i s i o n N o 1/80 aspect of the case which I have not hitherto depends. However, that reasoning mentioned. Might an individual in the applies to the case of employed workers; applicant's position be able to rely on the as we have seen, the Association Council general principle of non-discrimination on has not implemented the Agreement's rules the basis of nationality, laid down by on freedom of establishment, which are in Article 9 of the Agreement, in support of the nature of a programme, and in the face his claim to establish himself and reside in of such inaction it does not seem to me to the host Member State, even without the be possible to apply to a self-employed need for individual leave granted by the worker the principle that informs the rules Secretary of State under paragraph 21 of on the free movement of workers under the HC 51 Of Article 9, under Title II of the system established by the EC-Turkey Asso­ Agreement (headed 'Implementation of the ciation, whereby the lawfulness of a transitional stage') states: 'The Contracting migrant's employment in the host country Parties recognise that within the scope of entails his precise subjective legal rights, this Agreement and without prejudice to which constitute rights worthy of protec­ any special provisions which may be laid tion, being unconditionally recognised. In down pursuant to Article 8, any discrimi­ other words, the result of the interpretation nation on grounds of nationality shall be of Article 41(1) of the Additional Protocol prohibited in accordance with the principle which I am proposing to the Court would laid down in Article 7 of the Treaty |sub­ not, logically, be different even if M r and sequently Article 6 of the EC Treaty, now, Mrs Savas had applied to the British after amendment, Article 12 EC]'. 2 · 1 authorities for leave to remain in the United Kingdom before the expiry of their entry visa, while they still enjoyed a legal right of residence.

At first sight, those provisions might be thought capable of being applied in the

23 — Article 8 of the Agreement states: 'In order to attain the objectives set out in Article Ί (i.e. the progressive estab­ lishment of a customs union and the closer aliimment of Turkish economic policies with those of the Community in order to ensure the proper functioninp, ol the Association 18. That said, I would like for the sake of and the progress of the joint measures thereby rei|inred|, the Council tir Association shall (...) determine the completeness to add a few reflections on an conditions, rules and timetable for the implementation of the provisions relating to the fields covered by the Treaty establishing the Community which must be consideren; this shall apply in particular to such of those fields as are mentioned under tins Title and to any protective clause 22 — See footnote 18 above, and related text. which may prove appropriate'.

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present case for a number of reasons. First mination and British immigration legisla- of all, the principle of equal treatment laid tion, which appears to allow British and down in general terms by the Agreement Community citizens to set up and run has the status of an instrumental rather businesses without the need for appropriate than a substantive rule. It is therefore by authorisation. Recognition of the direct reference to Member States' application of effect of Article 9 of the Agreement would other legislative provisions to situations therefore be sufficient to grant M r Savas provided for and governed by conventional effective legal protection, as long, of law t h a t Article 9 of the Agreement course, as the application of the relevant requires them, in the absence of adequate British legislation gives rise to overt dis- and logical justification, not to treat their crimination on grounds of citizenship to the own citizens and Turkish citizens resident detriment of Turkish citizens. 2 6 in the national territory differently. More- over, freedom of establishment, which is at issue in the main proceedings, comes within the scope of the Agreement. 2 4 Finally, paragraph 21 of H C 510 is to be inter- preted as subjecting to official authorisa- tion by the Secretary of State the establish- ment in the United Kingdom for business purposes only of persons who are citizens of a non-member country, admitted under a tourist visa. 2 5 It would seem, therefore, that M r Savas's situation falls within an area in which the obligation of equal treatment may operate directly. The rights of establishment and residence relied on by him are said to flow from the combined application of the principle of non-discri- Moreover, examination of the question of discrimination — which I have set out above in hypothetical terms — is not precluded by the fact that neither the

26 — I have already observed that the Agreement lacks a provision corresponding to Article 52 of the EC Treaty, which constitutes a specific expression, in the matter of freedom of establishment, of the general principle of non- discrimination on grounds of nationality (see point 15 above and footnote 24). Therefore, where persons not 24 — Although it is undoubtedly significant that the Additional enjoying protection under a more specific rule of Commu- Protocol lacks a special provision, similar to Article 37 as nity law are found to have been unjustifiably discriminated regards the free movement of workers (see footnote 30 against, the national rules which offend the equal treat- below), reaffirming the obligation of Member States to ment obligation may be held contrary to Article 9 of the ensure equal treatment between Turkish citizens and its Agreement (see, mutatis mutandis, the Opinion of Advo- own citizens in regard to freedom of establishment. cate General Jacobs in Case 305/87 Commission v Greece 25 — A restriction on freedom of establishment such as making [1989] ECR 1-1468, paragraph 14). Moreover, the princi- access to self-employment conditional upon a previous ple is well established in the Court's case-law whereby individual administrative authorisation, laid down by the Article 6 of the EC Treaty is designed to apply indepen- legislation of a Member State in respect of foreign dently only in situations governed by Community law for nationals from the Community intending to establish which the Treaty does not establish specific rules of non- themselves there even if they satisfy the conditions laid discrimination on grounds of citizenship (see inter alia, down by the legislation of that State for its own citizens, is Joined Cases C-92/92 and C-326/92 Collins v Imtrat clearly contrary to the relevant Treaty rules, even if the Handelsgesellschaft [1993] ECR I-5145; Case C-43/95 occupation in question is amongst those regulated (see, Data Delecta v MSL Dynamics [1996] ECR 1-4661; and inter alia, Case 11/77 Patrick [1977] ECR 1199, paragraph Case C-85/96 Martinez Sala [1998] ECR 1-2691, para- 15). graph 63).

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national court nor Mr Savas has referred to a Turkish citizen in Mrs Sürül's position, 31 Article 9. According to the case-law, the as a condition for the grant of a family Court of Justice has the power, when giving benefit such as the dependent child allow- judgment under Article 177 of the Treaty, ance and additional amount provided for also to take into account provisions of by German law, to hold a specific type of Community law other than those raised by residence permit allowing the person con- the national court in its questions but cerned to remain in the national territory which appear relevant for the purposes of on a stable basis, where no such document resolving the dispute in the main proceed- is required of its own citizens residing in the ings. 2 7 national territory. 32

20. In contrast to Sürül, however, I con- sider that applying the general prohibition of discrimination on grounds of citizenship, imposed by the Agreement upon the Mem- ber States and Turkey, cannot entail accep- 19. In my additional Opinion in Sürül, 28 tance of Mr Savas's claim for the grant of subsequent to the closure of the written leave to remain as if he were a British, or at stage of these proceedings, I explained that any rate a Community, citizen.

That does Article 9 of the Agreement has direct effect in the legal systems of the Member States. 29 I then suggested that it should be 31 —That is to say, a Turkish citizen who is: (i) authorised to join her spouse for the sake of family unity, such spouse interpreted, in conjunction with Articles 37 also being a Turkish citizen resident in the territory of a Member State, who, in addition to pursuing university and 39 of the Additional Protocol, 30 as studies, is employed there on the basis of a temporary precluding a Member State from requiring work permit up to a maximum number of hours per week as an occasional worker, and (ii) legally resident with her spouse in the host Member State. 32 — In its judgment in Sürül (see footnote 10 above), the Court finally came to a similar solution, basing it — as I 27 — See, inter alia, Joined Cases 73/63 and 74/63 Internatio- suggested in my earlier Opinion of 12 February 1998 in nale Crediet- en Handelsvereniging [1964] ECR 1; Case Case C-262/96 — on Article 3(1) of Decision No 3/80, the 70/77 Emmenthal [1978] ECR 1453; Case 35/85 Tissier irovision with which the questions referred for a pre- [1986] ECR 1207; Case C-114/91 Claeys [1992] ECR I-6559; and Case C-280/91 Viessmann [19931 ECR I-971,

f iminary ruling by the German national court were concerned. The Court held, moreover, that the rule of paragraph 15. equal treatment in Article 3(1) of Decision No 3/80 lays 28 — Opinion of Advocate General La Pergola in Case C-262/96 down a precise obligation as to the result and, by virtue of its nature, can be relied on by an individual in proceedings Sürüt v Bundesanstalt für Arbeit [1999] ECR I-2726. before a national court as a basis for requesting it to 29 — See ibid., points 6 to 12. disapply the discriminatory provisions of the legislation of 30 — As regards conditions of work and remuneration, Arti- a Member State under which the grant of a right is subject cle 37 of the Additional Protocol requires each Member to a condition not imposed on nationals, without there State (thus with no condition of reciprocity on the part of being any need for that purpose to adopt additional Turkey) to apply to workers of Turkish nationality implementing measures. The Court drew support for that employed in the Community rules which do not 'discrimi- finding from the fact that Article 3(1) constitutes merely nate on grounds of nationality between such workers and the implementation and the concrete expression, in the workers who are nationals of other Member States of the particular field of social security, of the general principle of Community'. Article 39 provides that 'the Council of non-discrimination on grounds of nationality laid down in Association shall adopt social security measures for work- Article 9 of the Agreement, which refers to Article 12 ers of Turkish nationality moving within the Community (formerly Article 6) of the EC Treaty (see paragraphs 63 and for their families residing in the Community'. and 64 of the judgment, cited in footnote 10 above).

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not mean that the rights of establishment socio-economic fabric of the host Member and residence cannot in principle fall State. 34 That is clearly not the case with within the scope of the prohibition of M r Savas, who has opted for concealed de discrimination on grounds of citizenship. I facto establishment and subsequent régu- maintain, however, that — in assessing larisation of his position on the strength of whether the differentiated treatment accor- a fait accompli. In my opinion, therefore, a ded by British legislation to a person in M r Turkish citizen — who, like M r Savas, has Savas's situation constitutes 'discrimination been permitted to enter and remain in the on grounds of nationality' within the territory of a Member State for a brief meaning of Article 9 of the Agreement — period in his capacity as a tourist, subject to it is necessary not to lose sight of a an absolute prohibition on working, and fundamental principle to which I have who has instead remained there in secret, already referred a number of times; 33 the long enough to set up and run businesses overall position in which the Agreement there — should not be permitted to avail places Turkish citizens cannot be assumed himself of Article 9 of the Agreement in to be generally equivalent to that enjoyed order to obtain the right of establishment in by Community citizens under the Treaty. a Member State without the prior official To enable each Member State to retain authorisation prescribed by national law. control over migrant flows entering its own territory, the requirements for entry of Turkish migrant workers are determined solely by national law, and the possibility of the persons concerned obtaining work permits depends exclusively on the lawful- ness of their position with regard to the right of residence. The criterion in question was elicited by the Court when interpreting Article 6 of Decision N o 1/80 (see footnote 18 above), but which cannot fail to apply to freedom of establishment as well. As the British authorities have correctly observed, under the system established by the EC- Turkey Association the rights granted to Turkish citizens are accorded for the sole purpose of allowing those migrants who are already legally present in its territory as w o r k e r s ( w h e t h e r e m p l o y e d or self- 2 1 . Finally, in view of the negative answer employed) the better to integrate into the which I suggest that the Court should give to the first and third questions referred by the national court, I need scarcely add that there is no need to examine the remaining questions.

34 — Such as, for example, a Turkish citizen relying on the prohibition of discrimination on grounds of nationality in order to claim an extension of his residence permit in the host Member State so as to continue to pursue an activity there as a self-employed person or a business already 33 — See footnotes 20 and 21 above, and related text. lawfully authorised.

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III— Conclusion

For the reasons given above, I propose that the Court should reply to the questions referred by the High Court of Justice, Queen's Bench Division, as follows:

Article 13 of the Agreement establishing an Association between the European Economic Community and Turkey, signed at Ankara on 12 September 1963 by the Republic of Turkey, of the one part, and by the Member States of the EEC and the Community, of the other part, does not constitute a rule having direct effect in the internal legal systems of the Member States. Article 41(1) of the Additional Protocol, signed by the contracting parties in Brussels on 23 November 1970 and annexed to that Agreement, imposes on Member States a clear, precise and unconditional obligation not to introduce new restrictions on the freedom of establishment of Turkish citizens compared with those existing on 1 January 1973. Article 41(1) does not confer either a right of establishment or a right of residence on a Turkish citizen who has remained in the territory of a Member State after expiry of the validity of a lawful tourist entry visa, in breach of the national immigration legislation of that State, and who has worked there as a self- employed person. In those circumstances, therefore, the provision in question does not preclude the competent authorities of the host Member State from refusing, on the basis of the relevant legislation in force on 1 January 1973, to allow the Turkish migrant worker to remain in its territory.

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