01/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - The Commission has decided to pursue infringement proceedings against several Member States for violating Treaty rules on the free provision of services (Art. 49) and on the freedom of establishment (Art. 43), these are: France, Ireland, Portugal and Austria for restrictions on patent agents; Austria for higher hospital costs for non-residents; France for restrictions on medical laboratories, Portugal on private security services, Greece on opticians shops....