44The issue of a reasoned opinion constitutes a preliminary procedure (Joined Cases 142/80 and 143/80 Essevi and Salengo [1981] ECR 1413, paragraph 15), which does not have any binding legal effect for the addressee of the reasoned opinion. It is merely a pre-litigation stage of a procedure which may lead to an action before the Court (Joined Cases 6/69 and 11/69 Commission v France [1969] ECR 523, paragraph 36). The purpose of that pre-litigation procedure provided for by Article 169 of the Treaty is to enable the Member State to comply of its own accord with the requirements of the Treaty or, if appropriate, to justify its position (Case C-157/94 Commission v Netberlands [1997] ECR I-5699, paragraph 60; Case C-158/94 Commission v Italy [1997] ECR I-5789, paragraph 56; and Case C-159/94 Commission v France [1997] ECR I-5815, paragraph 103).
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