BRUSSELS ACTS

by MONITOR
EU Commission in Brussels has moved into top gear this week, launching legal action in 28 cases against 17 member states for failing to implement agreed measures to introduce full competition in the energy section. France was accused on five counts, Austria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Italy and Poland on four counts each.
The Commission also said that it would take Spain to the EU's top court for limiting voting rights over investments by state firms in the energy section; and it gave a final warning to Italy to comply with a decision by the EU court last year in a similar case on voting rights. It is also challenging France over its decision to create a special authorisation procedure for foreign investment. These initiatives will be welcomed by those who sometimes despair over the blatant disregard by EU member states of agreements reached at the highest level of EU decision-aking. France is a frequent offender and yesterday a French representative in Brussels complained that the Commission had ”chosen the path of formalising the conflict”. Jose Manuel Barroso, the Commission's president certainly gives the impression that he means business; if governments have reached an agreement he will see that it is carried out, subject to the decision of the EU court. This is a welcome change from the passivity of his predecessor, Romano Prodi.