Press Release: Commercial Communications – Commission decides to refer France to the Court of Justice

The European Commission has decided to refer France to the European Court of Justice concerning restrictions preventing the cross-border provision of television broadcasting services, cross-border sports sponsorship and advertising services by producers of alcoholic beverages. The Commission considers that the implementing measures (in the form of a Code of Conduct) taken by the French authorities to apply the 'Loi Evin' (which regulates the advertising of alcoholic beverages) in France are such that they disproportionately restrict the provision of cross-border media sales services by sports events organisers in other Member States. The Commission also takes the view that these measures restrict alcoholic beverage producers from buying advertising and sponsorship services from sports events organisers in other Member States.

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