In that respect, according tot the case-law of the Court of Justice, the essential characteristic of an employment relationship within the meaning of Article 39 of the Treaty is the fact that for a certain period of time a person provides services for and under the direction of another person in return for which he receives remuneration; any activity which a person performs outside a relationship of subordination must be classified as an activity pursued is a self-employed capacity for the purposes of Article 43 and 49 of the Treaty.
Šajā ziņā, saskaņā ar Eiropas Kopienu Tiesas praksi, svarīga darba attiecību iezīme Līguma 39. panta izpratnē ir fakts, ka zināmu laika brīdi persona citas personas vadībā sniedz pakalpojumus, pretī saņemot atlīdzību; jebkura darbība, ko minēta persona veic ārpus nodarbinātā attiecībām, jāklasificē kā darbs, ko veikusi pašnodarbināta persona saskaņā ar Līguma 43. un 49. pantu.