Judgment_paragraph 47 · Alliance Pharmaceuticals Ltd v European Union Intellectual Property Office (T-279/18)

47In such a situation, it is the interpretation which, among a number of possible interpretations of EU legal instruments, is the one which does not lead to an absurd result that must be preferred. It is true that the interpretation of EU law provisions is based first and foremost on the text, since that approach reflects the core principles of predictability and legal certainty. However, if the text is ambiguous or the literal meaning would lead to a nonsensical result, that meaning may be reappraised after being placed in its context and interpreted in the light of the provision of EU law as a whole, regard being had to the objectives thereof and to its state of evolution at the date on which the provision in question is to be applied (Opinion of Advocate General Bobek in European Federation for Cosmetic Ingredients, C‑592/14, EU:C:2016:179, paragraphs 36 and 37; see also, to that effect, Opinion of Advocate General Mayras in Fellinger, 67/79, not published, EU:C:1980:23, p. 550).

Alliance Pharmaceuticals Ltd v European Union Intellectual Property Office (T-279/18)

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