Brussels, 19/05/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday, the European Commission decided to remind Portugal of its obligation to comply with a Court of Justice ruling of 4 June 2002, which found the procedure for authorising foreign investment in privatised companies to be illegal, whereas the infringement proceedings against France regarding its special shareholding (golden share) in the company Nationale Elf-Aquitaine have been formally closed by the Commission, although Aquitaine had been found by the Court to constitute an unjustified obstacle to the free movement of capital. The spokesperson indicated in a press statement that closing the case was done in view of the measures taken by France to comply with a ruling of the Court, also of 4 June 2002. However, the Portuguese authorities have not notified the Commission to date of measures taken to implement the Court's judgement. This legislation prohibits the acquisition by investors from other Member States of more than a given number of shares in certain national undertakings and requires prior authorisation by the State for the acquisition of a holding in certain national undertakings in excess of a specified level. The Commission has therefore decided to initiate new infringement proceedings under Article 228 of the EC Treaty in order to ensure that the Portuguese legislation is brought into line with Community law.