Judgment of the Court (Fifth Chamber) 14 July 1994

In Case C-17/93, REFERENCE to the Court under Article 177 of the EEC Treaty by the Rechtbank van Eerste Aanleg, Ghent (Belgium) for a preliminary ruling in the criminal proceedings pending before that court against

THE COURT (Fifth Chamber), composed of: J. C. Moitinho de Almeida, President of the Chamber, R. Joliét, G. C. Rodríguez Iglesias, F. Grévisse and M. Zuleeg (Rapporteur), Judges, Advocate General: M. Darmon, Registrar: D. Louterman-Hubeau, Principal Administrator,

after considering the written observations submitted on behalf of: Mr Van der Veldt, by J. M. van Hille and P. Vlaemminck, of the Ghent Bar, the Commission of the European Communities, by H. van Lier, of its Legal Service, acting as Agent,

having regard to the Report for the Hearing,

after hearing the oral observations of Mr Van der Veldt, represented by M. Ryckman, of the Ghent Bar, and the Commission at the hearing on 20 January 1994,

after hearing the Opinion of the Advocate General at the sitting on 10 March 1994,

gives the following

Judgment

The first question

The second question

The third question

Costs

1 Language of the case: Dutch.