Press Release: Direct taxation: Commission takes steps against Belgium for failure to adopt national implementing measures of the Merger Directive

On 31 January, 2008, the European Commission formally requested Belgium to transpose into national law the 2005 Directive (IP/05/193) amending the Mergers Directive and to communicate the national implementing measures. The request takes the form of a ‘reasoned opinion’ (second step of the infringement procedure provided for in article 226 of the EC Treaty). If the relevant national legislation is not amended in order to comply with the reasoned opinion, the Commission may decide to refer the matter to the European Court of Justice.