An interesting statement has been made by the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) regarding petitions for preliminary rulings, in which the court applies a narrower interpretation of the "acte clair" doctrine. In the case João Filipe Ferreira da Silva e Brito and others v. Estado português, the CJEU concludes that the "acte clair" doctrine (Cilfit) is not applicable, and that the Portuguese Supreme Court should have submitted a request for a preliminary ruling to the Court of Justice in order to exclude the possibility of an erroneous interpretation of European law.