Press Release: Professional qualifications: Commission tells Italy to allow guides with tourist groups from other Member States to work at Italian sites

The European Commission decided on 26 October 2004 to request Italy formally to cease preventing tourist guides from other Member States who accompany groups of tourists on visits to Italy from acting as guides for their groups at sites of interest. The Commission's request took the form of a reasoned opinion, the second stage of the infringement procedure under Article 226 of the EC Treaty.