Press Release: Internal Market: infringement proceedings against Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Portugal and Spain

The European Commission has decided, under Article 228 of the EC Treaty, to send a reasoned opinion to Portugal and letters of formal notice to Italy and Spain asking those Member States for full information on their execution of Court judgements relating to implementation of a Directive on rental and lending rights. The Commission has also decided to formally request the Czech Republic and Hungary to implement fully in national law a Directive on the activities and supervision of institutions for occupational retirement provision. This formal request takes the form of a "reasoned opinion", 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 matter to the European Court of Justice.