Brussels, 14/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 12 December, the European Commission decided to refer Portugal and Slovenia to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for failing to submit the national measures adopted to implement directive 2004/51/EC. This directive provides for the opening of the international rail freight market from 1st January 2006 and the national market from 1st January 2007. The Commission also decided to send a reasoned opinion to Latvia, which has not informed the Commission of the measures to be taken to transpose directive 2004/50/EC on railway interoperability into national law. Latvia has two months to submit the information required, after which time, the Commission may decide to take the case to the ECJ. (dt)