Press Release: Free movement of services: Commission acts to remove obstacles to provision of gambling services in Greece and the Netherlands

The European Commission took action to put an end to obstacles to the free movement of gambling services in Greece and the Netherlands. The Commission formally requested these Member States to amend their respective laws following consideration of their replies to official requests for information in which the Commission sought to verify whether the restrictions in question are compatible with Article 49 of the EC Treaty, which guarantees the free movement of services. These requests were sent to Greece in June 2007 (IP/07/909) and to the Netherlands in April 2006 (IP/06/436). The Commission considered that the restrictions in question are not compatible with existing EU law and that the measures taken by these Member States to restrict the free movement of gambling services have not been shown to be necessary, proportionate and non-discriminatory. These formal requests took the form of 'reasoned opinions', the second stage of the infringement procedure laid down in Article 226 of the EC Treaty. If there is no satisfactory reply within two months, the Commission may refer the matters to the European Court of Justice.