At first glance, the principle of consistent interpretation seems to be the least intrusive way of giving effect to EU law in legal orders of Member states. Unlike direct effect, consistent interpretation does not entail direct application of EU law. The legal basis is national law, which national authorities are bound to interpret in accordance with the wording and the purpose of the directive. However, the obligation of consistent interpretation does not relate only to courts, but applies to all national authorities and to the national law as a whole. It applies from the moment of expiry of the deadline for transposition of the directive. In general, it is most commonly linked with directives, but it exists in relation to other sources of EU law as well. Even though it is true that the CJEU does not demand the consistent interpretation at any cost, the Member states’ authorities are nevertheless bound to exhaust all possibilities under national law, in order to ensure a consistent interpretation. Therefore, it is an extremely intensive obligation, requiring much more from the Member States than it may seem on the surface.
The principle of consistent interpretation is limited especially by general principles of EU law: the principle of legal certainty, the principle of prohibition of retroactivity, the principle of legality in criminal law etc. Furthermore, the CJEU prohibits the interpretation contra legem, but does not define it. Like some other vague aspects of the doctrine of consistent interpretation, the definition of the contra legem interpretation is left to the state authorities and may therefore vary among Member states. In Slovenia, it is understood as an interpretation which cannot be reached with the use of established methods of statutory construction.
Consistent interpretation is particularly important for ensuring the uniform application of EU law and its efficiency, especially with respect to individuals, where direct effect of directives is prohibited according to the Marshall I doctrine. The CJEU has thus extended the scope of application of directives to individuals in a very refined manner and without causing too much of a stir.
|