33However, it should be noted that European Union Law does not prohibit a Member State from relying on a limitation period to resist an application for a special length-of-service increment, such as that at issue in the main proceedings, which, in breach of provisions of European Union law, was not granted, even if that Member State has not amended the national rules in order to render them compatible with those provisions. The situation will be different only if the conduct of the national authorities, in conjunction with the existence of a limitation period, had the effect of depriving a person of any opportunity of enforcing his rights before the national courts (see, to that effect, Aprile, paragraphs 43 and 45).
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