Luxembourg, 28/07/2000 (Agence Europe) - The Court of Justice has said that it does not suffice for a Member State to claim "necessities of national territorial defence" for discrimination over access to property to be justified; there also has to be real proof.
The Court had to decide on the legitimacy of an Italian law prescribing prior administrative approval for a foreigner to be able to buy property, if the property was situated in a zone declared "of military importance". In its ruling,...