Judgment of the Court 31 May 1989

In Case 344/87 REFERENCE to the Court under Article 177 of the EEC Treaty by the Raad van State, Afdeling Rechtspraak (Council of State, Judicial Division) for a preliminary ruling in the proceedings pending before that court between

THE COURT composed of: O. Due, President, T. Koopmans, R. Joliet and F. Grévisse (Presidents of Chambers), Sir Gordon Slynn, C. N. Kakouris, J. C. Moitinho de Almeida, G. C. Rodríguez Iglesias and M. Diez de Velasco, Judges, Advocate General: F. G. Jacobs Registrar: H. A. Rühl, Principal Administrator

after considering the observations submitted on behalf of the plaintiff in the main proceedings, Ingo Bettray, by L. F. Portier, lawyer, the Netherlands Government by E. F. Jacobs, Secretary-General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Commission of the European Communities by Pieter Jan Kuyper, a member of its Legal Department, acting as Agent

having regard to the Report for the Hearing and further to the hearing on 18 January 1989,

after hearing the opinion of the Advocate General delivered at the sitting on 8 March 1989,

gives the following

Judgment

Costs

1 Language of the case: Dutch