Inizan (Freedom to provide services)

(Social security - Freedom to provide services - Costs of hospital stay to be incurred in another Member State - Conditions of reimbursement - Prior authorisation - Article 22 of Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 - Validity)

REFERENCE to the Court under Article 234 EC by the Tribunal des affaires de s�curit� sociale de Nanterre (France) for a preliminary ruling in the proceedings pending before that court between Patricia Inizan

on the validity and interpretation of Article 22 of Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 of the Council of 14 June 1971 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons, to self-employed persons and to members of their families moving within the Community, as amended and updated by Council Regulation (EC) No 118/97 of 2 December 1996 (OJ 1997 L 28, p. 1), and on the interpretation of Articles 49 EC and 50 EC, THE COURT (Fifth Chamber),

composed of: C.W.A. Timmermans, President of the Fourth Chamber, acting for the President of the Fifth Chamber, A. La Pergola (Rapporteur), P. Jann, S. von Bahr and A. Rosas, Judges, Advocate General: D. Ruiz-Jarabo Colomer, Registrar: M.-F. Contet, Principal Administrator,

Without prejudice to agreements and international rules, or to Article L.766-1, where medical treatment is given outside France to insured persons and their dependants, the corresponding benefits under the sickness and maternity insurance scheme shall not be provided.