Brussels, 12/10/2006 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has decided to pursue infringement proceedings against thirteen member States for failing to transpose one or more internal market directives into national law.
Occupational retirement pensions. Italy will be referred to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for failing to transpose directive 2003/41/EC on activities and monitoring of institutions for occupational retirement provision. Italy has still to respond to the Commission's reasoned opinion sent in April 2006. The directive should have been transposed by September 2005.
Intellectual property. The Commission has decided to formally ask, in the form of reasoned opinions, twelve Member States (Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Luxemburg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Sweden) to implement directive 2004/48/EC on enforcement of intellectual and industrial property.
Recognition of professional qualifications. France will have to inform the Commission of its measures to implement the Court of Justice ruling of June 2006 (case C-164/05) for failure to notify measures transposing into national law directive 2001/19/EC on mutual recognition of professional qualifications for several regulated professions. France has failed to notify the Commission of the implementing measures with regard to the professions of nurse, mid-wife and pharmacist, as well as other professions to which the general system for the recognition of diplomas applies. France could face the imposition of a penalty payment by the Court. (mb)