Feb 28 (Reuters) - The European Commission started or
stepped up an array of legal actions against European Union
countries on Thursday which include breaking EU rules on
gambling, snowboard instructors and handling human blood.
The Commission wants to make the bloc's economy more
efficient and the measures were mostly aimed at knocking down
barriers to competition.
Below are some of the steps taken and an explanation of the
process:
WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE?
The Commission starts an infringement procedure by sending a
"letter of formal notice" to an EU state, requesting information
on a disputed issue.
If the Commission is not satisfied with the response, it can
send a "reasoned opinion", or a final warning, setting out why
it thinks there has been a breach of EU law.
Unless the member state complies with the reasoned opinion
by a deadline, typically two months, the Commission may bring
the case before the European Court of Justice (ECJ), the top
court in the EU. It can take two years to bring a case.
WHO FACES LEGAL ACTION?
INTERNAL MARKET
The Commission gave the Netherlands and Greece a final
warning over barring foreign competitors on gaming markets.
It is taking France to court over its public procurement
code and its refusal to allow snowboard instructors from other
states, particularly Germany, to teach in France.
The Commission is taking Italy to court over restrictions on
the setting up of service stations, making it difficult for new
competitors from other EU states.
TAX
Portugal is being taken to the top court for failing to
comply with EU rules on the movement and holding of goods
subject to excise duties.
It has been handed a final warning to stop taxing income
from investments held abroad more heavily than those in
Portugal.
Greece has been given a final warning over its treatment of
requests for the refund of unduly paid taxes.
The Commission has given Poland, the Netherlands, Portugal,
France, Italy, Finland, Greece and the Czech Republic a final
warning to change their rules regarding the application of the
special value added tax margin scheme for travel agents.
Spain has been given a final warning to stop taxing foreign
investment income more heavily than income from domestic
investments.
The Commission sent a final warning to Lithuania and a first
warning to Latvia for taxing foreign dividends more heavily than
domestic dividends.
Belgium was given final warnings to end discrimination
against foreign nurseries, artists and sportsmen through its tax
system.
ENVIRONMENT
The Commission gave a final warning to the Czech Republic,
Finland, Greece, Portugal and Luxembourg for not fully
introducing EU rules aimed at lowering the environmental impact
of energy-using products.
HEALTH
Greece is being taken to court for not introducing EU
measures which set bloc-wide quality and safety standards for
the collection, testing, processing, storage and distribution of
human blood and blood components.
