50In that regard, it should be noted that, although it is for the Member States, in accordance with Article 4(2) TEU, to define their essential security interests and to take appropriate measures to ensure their internal and external security, the mere fact that a national measure has been taken for the purpose of protecting national security cannot render EU law inapplicable and exempt the Member States from the need to comply with EU law (see, to that effect, judgment of 15 July 2021, Ministrstvo za obrambo, C‑742/19, EU:C:2021:597, paragraph 40 and the case-law cited).
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