94It follows from the foregoing that ‘equivalent compensating rest periods’ within the meaning of Article 17(2) and (3) of Directive 93/104 must, in order to comply with both those qualifications and the objective of the directive as described at paragraph 92 of this judgment, be characterised by the fact that during such periods the worker is not subject to any obligation vis-à-vis his employer which may prevent him from pursuing freely and without interruption his own interests in order to neutralise the effects of work on his safety or health. Such rest periods must therefore follow on immediately from the working time which they are supposed to counteract in order to prevent the worker from experiencing a state of fatigue or overload owing to the accumulation of consecutive periods of work.
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