C-387/97, Commission v Greece
Key Points to Note in This Case
• The European Commission brought the first case against Greece in 2000 under Article 260 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
• Initially, the courts were slow to impose sanctions.
• However, the rate at which cases are referred has increased since then.
‘n-factor’
• This criterion determines member states’ ability to pay fines.
• It should be determined in light of the GDP of the member state and the number of votes they hold in the Council.
• In 2014, the old weighted voting system in the Council was replaced with the double majority voting system.
• The latter criterion (number of votes in the Council) was simply abandoned.
• Now, the ‘n-factor’ is based solely on the member states’ GDP.