This Article is based on Court of Justice case-law which has recognised freedom to exercise an economic or commercial activity (see judgments of 14 May 1974, Case 4/73 Nold [1974] ECR 491, paragraph 14 of the grounds, and of 27 September 1979, Case 230-78 SpA Eridiana and others [1979] ECR 2749, paragraphs 20 and 31 of the grounds) and freedom of contract (see inter alia Sukkerfabriken Nykøbing judgment, Case 151/78 [1979] ECR 1, paragraph 19 of the grounds, and judgment of 5 October 1999, C-240/97 Spain v Commission [1999] ECR I-6571, paragraph 99 of the grounds) and Article 119(1) and(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which recognises free competition.
Tá an tAirteagal seo bunaithe ar chásdlí na Cúirte Breithiúnais inar aithníodh an tsaoirse chun gníomhaíocht eacnamaíochta nó thráchtála a fheidhmiú (féach breithiúnais an 14 Bealtaine 1974, Cás 4/73, Nold [1974] ECR 491, mír 14 den a forais; agus an 27 Meán Fómhair 1979, Cás 230/78 SpA Eridiana agus eile [1979] ECR 2749, míreanna 20 agus 31 den a forais agus an tsaoirse chonarthach (féach inter alia Sukkerfabriken Nykøbing, Cás 151/78 [1979] ECR 1, mír 19 den a forais, agus breithiúnas an 5 Deireadh Fómhair 1999, C–240/97 An Spáinn v. an Coimisiún, [1999] ECR I–6571, mír 99 den a forais), agus Airteagal 119(1) agus (3) den Chonradh ar Fheidhmiú an Aontais Eorpaigh, ina n-aithnítear an tsaoriomaíocht.