Brussels, 20/10/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has decided to go to the Court of Justice over the German system on canned drink packaging gut is suspending the application of this application for three months, the time for continuing discussion with the German authorities. This decision was justified by the "recent attempts by the German authorities to respond pro-actively to the Commission's concerns", explained a press statement. The German system imposes a 25-50 cents deposit per bottle or can of drink and compels businesses to take back all empty packaging that have the same shape as they have in their shops even if they do not come from their shops. In this way all products that are shaped differently are rejected and suppliers from other Member States that use other "packaging" for logistical reasons are discriminated against.
Karl-Heinz Florenz, president of the EP environment committee commented on "clemency over the law!". The CDU MEP affirmed on Monday that Commissioner Bolkestein was right to take Germany to the Court of Justice for obstructing the free movement of goods in the single market (EUROPE yesterday p 13)and calls on the German government to use this "delayed grace" to comply with Community rules. He added that he was rather pessimistic as he was aware of the environmental chaos in the Trittin ministry.