25As pointed out in paragraph 19 of this judgment, the existence of a failure to fulfil obligations must be considered in relation to the situation prevailing at the end of the period laid down for compliance with the reasoned opinion and changes made thereafter cannot be taken into account. In this case, it is common ground that the period laid down in that opinion, and extended at the request of the French authorities, expired on 27 October 2000. The assessment as to whether or not there has been a failure to fulfil obligations must therefore relate to the French legislation in force on that date.
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