Brussels, 21/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 21 June, the European Commission opened infringement proceedings against Spain, Cyprus, Finland and Poland at the EU Court of Justice, for non-compliance with transport policy. Three other countries - Belgium, Lithuania and Italy - are also threatened after receiving a reasoned opinion from the Commission.
Four countries before the Court of Justice. The Commission has opened court action against Spain for restricting imports of heavy goods vehicles under the pretext that, if the first vehicle of a haulier is over five months old, it cannot enter the territory. This obstacle to the principle of free movement of goods was to have been abolished in autumn 2011. Cyprus will be taken before the Court for not having transposed European rules on driving licences (Directive 91/439/EEC) by January 2011, with the result that this is detrimental to road safety. It is also due to concerns about protecting road users that the Commission is taking Finland before the Court. The country has not applied Directive 2008/69/EC on road infrastructure safety, as it should have done by December 2010. Finally, court action will be taken against Poland by the Commission for not having set in place an independent body for maritime security inquiries, which is essential after serious accidents at sea. A reasoned opinion had already been sent calling on Poland to give information on this matter.
Three other reasoned opinions. Belgium has been sent a reasoned opinion for not having transposed, one year ago, European rules for overland and inland waterway transport of dangerous goods. Italy also receives a reasoned opinion as, in Campania, Latium and Sardinia, competition has not been fully played out in the awarding of public service contracts to regional maritime transport companies. Finally, a last reasoned opinion on transport has been sent to Lithuania for maintaining a priority right for cargo-handling operators renewing their port land lease contract upon its expiry, thus discouraging operators from other member states from setting up business in Lithuania.
The above three countries have two months in which to inform the Commission of measures taken to remedy the failings set out in the reasoned opinion. Failing this, they may, in turn, be taken before the European Court of Justice. (MD/transl.jl)