Centros Ltd v Erhvervs-og Selskabsstyrelsen

Subject Matter

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY — Freedom of establishment — Body corporate — Formation of company in member state where no minimum requirement for paid up share capital — Application to register branch in member state where minimum share capital of companies formed there required to be paid up — Intention to trade only in state where branch to be established — Whether abuse of right of establishment — Whether refusal of application contrary to right of freedom of establishment — Whether refusal justified — EC Treaty, arts 52, 58

(Case C-212/97); EU:C:1999:126; [2000] Ch 446; [2000] 2 WLR 1048; [2000] All ER (EC) 481; [1999] ECR I-1459, ECJ