11.9.2004   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 228/21

(a)

Is Clause 8(3) of the Framework Agreement (Council Directive 1999/70/EC of 28 June 1999 concerning the framework agreement on fixed-term work concluded by ETUC, UNICE and CEEP) (1) to be interpreted as prohibiting, in the course of the implementation of that agreement in national law, any reduced protection as a result of a reduction in the age limit from 60 to 58?

(b)

Is Clause 5(1) of the Framework Agreement (Council Directive 1999/70/EC of 28 June 1999 concerning the framework agreement on fixed-term work concluded by ETUC, UNICE and CEEP) to be interpreted as precluding a provision of national law which — like the provision at issue in this case — does not contain any of the three restrictions set out in paragraph 1 of that clause?

(c)

Is Article 6 of Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 (2) establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation to be interpreted as precluding a provision of national law under which — as under the provision at issue in this case — fixed-term employment contracts may be concluded, without any objective reason, with workers aged 52 and over and which thus runs counter to the principle of justification on objective grounds?

(d)

If one of those three questions is answered in the affirmative:

Must the national court refuse to apply the provision of national law which conflicts with Community law and, in that case, does the general principle laid down in national law apply, under which fixed terms of employment are permissible only if they are justified on an objective ground?