Alpine Investments Bv V Minister Van Financiën [1995]

AI, a Dutch company specialising in commodities futures, objected to the Minister for Finance's decision, following complaints from investors, to prohibit financial intermediaries from making unsolicited telephone calls to potential clients, including clients in other Member States, to market their services.

The Dutch court asked the ECJ for a preliminary ruling on whether the prohibition on cold calling was covered by Art.59 of the Treaty of Rome 1957 on freedom to provide services, and in particular whether Art.59 covered…