§ Mr. Martenasked the Attorney-General what study he has made of the judgment of the European Court in the case of the Italian Tax Administration and S.A. Simmenthal, Monza, that existing European Economic Community law overrides subsequent law enacted by national Parliaments; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe judgment of the European Court in Amministrazione delle Finanze dello Stato v. S.p.A. Simmenthal is not yet available in English, and I have read only the summary of the judgment printed inThe Times on 13th March 1978. The principle of priority of directly applicable Community law over national law enunicated by the European Court appears to accord with my understanding of the impact of that law as indicated in previous decisions of the Court.