Brussels, 02/05/2006 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday the European Commission threatened to impose measures on countries that have not transposed the European directive into national law on free movement and the right of residency of EU citizens in the European Union. On Tuesday the European Commissioner for Justice and Freedom issues, Franco Frattini declared, “I am ready to begin legal proceedings”. The text, the transposition of which should have been made by 30 April 2006 at the latest, is, nonetheless, applicable throughout the Twenty-Five, including countries which have still not integrated it, insisted the European Commissioner on Tuesday. Mr Frattini underlined the fact that only 6 or 7 European countries had transposed the directive at present but that the directive was compulsory everywhere, even if it is not transposed in compliance with European jurisprudence. He referred to the passage in which parties that have noted this non-respect of the directive could also go to their national courts. Only Austria, Slovenia and Slovakia have transposed the new European rules into their legislation, while Denmark and the United Kingdom have announced their intention to do so, indicated the European Commissioner. According to Mr Frattini, other EU countries are probably late in their application of these measures. According to figures provided by the Commission, around 7 million European currently live in another Member State other than their country of origin. The new directive replaces 10 legislative texts and grants EU citizens the right to move from their own countries. The text therefore also grants the right of European citizens to family reunification in any Member States and reduces administrative formalities for moving within the EU. On the basis of the new directive, any citizen permanently residing in a Member State for five years could benefit from the same rights and treatment as nationals from the country in question. Expulsion is now no longer possible except in exceptions relating to national security or public order. This directive is directly linked to the opening up of the labour markets in several of the “older member countries” to workers from the eight new Member States (see article above). Mr Frattini said that this directive would facilitate things and encourage countries that had not yet opened up their markets.