Press Release: Direct Taxation: Commission requests that Belgium, France, Greece, the Netherlands and Portugal change discriminatory rules

The Commission sent on 18 march 2010 requests to Belgium, France, Greece, the Netherlands and Portugal to change various rules related to direct taxation which are disproportionate and/or discriminatory and infringe upon the fundamental freedoms set out in the Treaty of the Functioning of the EU (TFEU). The requests were sent in the form of Reasoned Opinions, the second step in the infringement procedure (Art. 258 TFEU). If there is no satisfactory reaction from the Member States in question within 2 months, the Commission may decide to refer the relevant matter to the Court of Justice.