Press Release: Free movement of goods and services: Greece referred to Court over obstacles to importing and marketing games

The European Commission decided on 14 October 2004 to refer Greece to the European Court of Justice over its ban on the installation and operation of electrical, electromechanical and electronic games, including computer games, in all public and private places - including premises providing Internet services (cyber cafés). The Commission considered that the Greek law in question (of 29 July 2002) is incompatible with the provisions of the EC Treaty on the free movement of goods and services and the freedom of establishment. The fact that the law was not notified at the draft stage also constitutes an infringement of Directive 98/34/EC, which provides for prior notification of national regulations laying down technical rules for on-line goods and services. Despite promising to amend its legislation in response to the Commission's reasoned opinion sent in April 2004, Greece had yet to introduce any change.