Press Release: State aid: Commission refers Spain to Court and requests Slovenia to fully implement Financial Transparency Directive

The European Commission has decided to refer Spain to the European Court of Justice for failing to implement in full the Commission Directive on the transparency of financial relations between Member States and public undertakings (2000/52/EC amending Directive 80/723/EEC, see IP/00/763). Spain had previously been formally requested to fully implement the Directive within two months from the reasoned opinion sent in March 2005 (see IP/05/345) but has not yet complied with this request. The Commission has also issued a formal request to Slovenia to fully implement the original Financial Transparency Directive 80/723/EEC and the three amending Directives (85/413/EEC, 93/84/EEC and 2000/52/EC). The formal request takes the form of a reasoned opinion, the second stage of the infringement procedure under Article 226 of the EC Treaty. If Slovenia does not take the necessary measures to comply with the reasoned opinion within two months of receipt, the Commission may refer it to the European Court of Justice.