Brussels, 31/07/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission decided to send a reasoned opinon to Spain, for the unjustified restrictions to the activity of private security guards. In fact, Madrid does not automatically recognise the right of non-Spaniards to operate as private security guards in Spain, even when they are properly authorised to operate elsewhere in the EU. "Professional qualifications acquired in EU Member States other than Spain are not recognised and an operating licence from another Member State is not considered to be valid," explains the Commission, for whom the restrictions constitute, among others, an infringement to the rules of the EU Treaty on freedom of establishment and freedom to provide services (Articles 43 and 49 of the Treaty).
After receiving the motivated opinion, Spain will have two months to provide a satisfactory answer, without which the Commission could bring the case before the European Court of Justice.