Brussels, 25/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 25 June, the European Commission sent Belgium and the United Kingdom formal requests to communicate measures implementing Commission Directive 2005/81/EC amending the directive on the transparency of financial relations between member states and public undertakings. Member states were required to implement the directive in national law by 19 December 2006. Belgium and the United Kingdom now have two months to notify to the Commission the measures they have taken to implement the directive. Failing this, the Commission may refer them to the European Court of Justice. Neelie Kroes, Competition Commissioner, said: “It is clearly in the interest of European citizens that the Commission is in a position to verify that public money is used to provide public services and not to subsidise commercial activities. The UK and Belgium are the only member states that have not complied with their financial transparency obligations and they must do so promptly”. (O.L./transl.jl)