European Union – Consumer protection. The Court of Justice of the European Union made a preliminary ruling concerning the interpretation of art 3(5) of, and points (b) and (c) of Annex A to, Directive (EC) 2003/54 of the European Parliament and of the Council (concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity), and art 3(3) of, and points (b) and (c) of Annex A to, Directive (EC) 2003/55 of the European Parliament and of the Council (concerning common rules for the internal market in natural gas). The requests had been made in two sets of proceedings, respectively between Ms Schulz and Technische Werke Schussental GmbH und Co. KG (TWS) and between Mr Egbringhoff and Stadtwerke Ahaus GmbH (SA) concerning the use, by TWS and SA respectively, of allegedly unlawful clauses in consumer contracts covered by a universal supply obligation.