Press Release: Free movement of goods: Belgium brought before the Court for hampering imports of wheelchairs

The European Commission has decided to bring Belgium before the Court of Justice on account of national legislation which has the effect of hampering the marketing of wheelchairs manufactured in other Member States by imposing overly restrictive conditions on reimbursement under the national social-security scheme. The Commission's decision seeks the implementation of the provisions of the EC Treaty guaranteeing the free movement of goods (Article 28), which all Member States have undertaken to observe. Moreover, the effect of the obstacles is to restrict the choice of wheelchairs available to users in Belgium.