European Union – Financial markets. Directive (EC) 2004/39, as amended by Directive 2010/78/EU, in particular arts 8, 23, 50 and 51 thereof, arts 49 and 56 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and the principles of non‑discrimination and proportionality should be interpreted as meaning that a temporary prohibition on exercising the activity of financial adviser authorised to provide offsite services fell neither within the scope of that directive, nor that of arts 49 and 56 TFEU or that of the principles of non-discrimination and proportionality. Accordingly, arts 8, 23, 50 and 51 of that directive, arts 49 and 56 TFEU and the principles of non‑discrimination and proportionality did not preclude such a prohibition. The Court of Justice of the European Union so held in a preliminary ruling in proceedings concerning the lawfulness of the respondent Italian National Companies and Stock Exchange Commission's decision to temporarily prohibit the applicant from exercising the activity of financial adviser authorised to provide offsite services.