Brussels, 05/05/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 5 May, the European Commission closed infringement proceedings against Spain for discriminating against workers on the basis of nationality in accessing jobs on ships flying the Spanish flag. The decision to close the case follows Spain's action to bring its legislation into line with EU law.
The Commission points out in a press release that on 20 November 2008, the Court of Justice of the EU ruled that the Spanish law prohibiting non-Spanish EU-citizens from access to the posts of captain and chief mate on certain ships flying the Spanish flag were incompatible with EU rules on free movement of workers. The ruling followed similar judgements of the Court against France in March 2008 and against Italy in September 2008 confirming its initial case law of 2003 on this question (rulings on cases C-405/01 and C-47/02). Article 260 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU states that a country must take all measures necessary to comply with a Court ruling which finds that it has failed to meet its obligations under EU law. If it does not do so, the Commission may open new infringement proceedings, the Commission says in its press release. G.B./transl.rt)