99Moreover, it must be borne in mind that, although the right to property and freedom to pursue a trade or profession are general principles of European Union law, they are not absolute, but must be viewed in relation to their function in society. Consequently, the exercise of those rights may be restricted, provided that those restrictions in fact correspond to objectives of public interest pursued by the European Union and do not constitute, in relation to the aim pursued, a disproportionate and intolerable interference, impairing the very substance of the rights so guaranteed (see, to that effect, Case C-280/93 Germany v Council [1994] ECR I-4973, paragraph 78; Case C-183/95 Affish [1997] ECR I-4315, paragraph 42; and Case T-113/96 Dubois et Fils v Council and Commission [1998] ECR II-125, paragraph 74). The importance of the objectives pursued may justify restrictions which bring about even substantial negative consequences for certain economic operators (see, to that effect, Case C-331/88 Fedesa and Others [1990] ECR I-4023, paragraph 17, and Affish, paragraph 42).
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