Press Release: Professional qualifications: infringement procedures against France, Greece and Spain

The European Commission on 29 June 2006 decided to take action against France, Greece and Spain to correct breaches of EU law on professional qualifications. The Commission was to refer France to the European Court of Justice over its rules on the temporary provision of services by doctors, dentists and midwives established in another Member State. The Commission was also planning to make formal requests to France to modify its laws on the recognition of qualifications for canyoning guides and snowboard instructors. Meanwhile the Commission decided, under Article 228 of the EC Treaty, to send Greece a further reasoned opinion requesting it to comply immediately with the 2005 judgment of the Court requiring it to allow companies to open optician outlets. The Commission also intended to send Greece a reasoned opinion regarding qualifications for doctors. Finally Spain was to be sent a reasoned opinion regarding its recognition of qualifications for hospital pharmacists.