Luxembourg, 07/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - The sixth chamber of the Court of Justice, presided over by Fidelma Macken, has issued a ruling that liberalises the temping labour market in Italy a little more. At the request of the European Commission, the judges condemned Italy that demands all temping agencies established in other Member States, but which want to provide services on its territory, to deposit a guarantee (61,519.829 euro or 700 million lira). The obligation to block this sum, whereas the company has already put down a guarantee in its Member State of origin, "is of a nature to impeded the company's activities" and breaches the principle of the free provision of services, the Court explains. If the State in which the company is established does not demand a guarantee, on the other hand, Italy may do so, as there would be no double burden for the company.
Italy has also been condemned for two other infringements to European law, but only for past situations, as it would seem that it has now put its house in order. It demanded that the company should have a branch in Italy to be able to provide its services, and that the guarantee be blocked in a bank established in Italy.