Watson v Belmann: ECJ 7 Jul 1976

ECJ 1. Articles 48 to 66 of the treaty and the measures adopted by the community in application thereof implement a fundamental principle of the treaty, confer on persons whom they concern individual rights which the national courts must protect and take precedence over any national rule which might conflict with them.
2. National regulations which require nationals of other member states who benefit from the provisions of articles 48 to 66 of the eec treaty to report to the authorities of that state and prescribe that residents who provide accommodation for foreign nationals must inform the said authorites of the identity of such foreign nationals are in principle compatible with the provisions in question provided, first, that the period fixed for the discharge of the said obligations is reasonable and, secondly, that the penalties attaching to a failure to discharge them are not disproportionate to the gravity of the offence and do not include deportation.
In so far as such rules do not entail restrictions on freedom of movement for persons they do not constitute discrimination prohibited under article 7 of the treaty.

Citations:

C-118/75, R-118/75, [1976] EUECJ R-118/75

Links:

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European

Updated: 21 June 2022; Ref: scu.214493