Brussels, 31/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has asked Greece to refrain from levying a special tax on pleasure craft entering Greek territorial waters. In the absence of a satisfactory response to its reasoned opinion within two months, the Commission could refer the case to the Court of Justice.
A Greek law dating back to November 1999 created a tax on private pleasure craft entering Greek territorial waters which are more than 7 meters in length and which have no permanent mooring in a Greek port. This tax is levied each time a pleasure boat enters the country and approaches a Greek port, harbour or coast; the amount is calculated on the length of the boat and come on top of any harbour dues normally levied. The Commission considers that such a tax, which is levied upon the crossing of a territorial line and does not relate to a service actually rendered to a person paying this tax is a tax with equivalent effect to import duties contrary to Articles 23 and 25 of the EC Treaty. It is prohibited irrespectively of whether it is levied on a Community pleasure craft or third country pleasure craft.