Article 234 and Competition Law

It is a truism that almost all the major principles established by the ECJ have been decided in the context of a reference to that court for a preliminary ruling under Article 234 (ex 177) EC. Article 234 facilitates a dialogue between the national courts and the ECJ in order to allow national courts to seek guidance on the appropriate interpretation of Community law principles in a particular legal dispute. From a Community perspective, this process should enhance the uniform and consistent interpretation of Community law throughout the national courts.