Most-favoured-nation clause in the tax cases – some observations on the ECJ’s judgment in case no. C-335/05

Abstract

This paper tackles some issues concerning the scope of application of the most-favourednation clause (MFN) in the tax cases. The main issue of the analysis is the ECJ’s judgment in case no. C-355/05 concerning the application by the EU Member States the condition of reciprocity on one hand, and the MFN as enshrined in the Article II.1 of the GATS. Starting with the practice of the MFN under international law it is shown that the main function of the MFN is an introduction of equal treatment of entities irrespectively of their nationality and, consequently, the removal of barriers in international trade. The MFN are particularly important in the WTO system. For these reasons the judgment in question interesting because firstly, it requires the interpretation of the EU law in accordance with international treaties to which the EU is a party and at the same time, it seemingly authorises the Member States to limit the scope of MFN of the Article II.1. of the GATS.