Brussels, 18/07/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission may decide on Wednesday to send Germany a letter of formal notice about its system for the recycling of cans and other drink receptacles, the Commission confirmed on Friday. The Commission entered proceedings against Germany in May, as it felt its system was "disproportionate" with its environmental objectives, and constitutes an obstacle to free movement.
Germany has since then agreed to change its deposit system, which obliges consumers to return cans to the shop where they bought them, as of 1 October. Due to complaints from French producers in the main, the services of Internal Market Commissioner, Frits Bolkestein, thought this time-scale would prolong discrimination against producers from other Member States. However, the services of Environment Commissioner, Margot Wallström, believe that opening proceedings against a system which is to end in two months is a nonsense. This view was supported this week by other Commissioners.