EUROPEAN COMMISSION GETS TOUGH WITH THE FRENCH

27 July 2007

Legal action could be the next step after 24 August deadline

The European Commission is taking a tougher stance on the French refusal to open its online gambling to companies from other EU states, it appears.

Ton Van Lierop, a spokesman for the European Union revealed that the European Commission last week urged the French Government to modify its draft law on online gambling that obliges internet service providers (ISPs) to warn customers against the use of foreign online gambling sites.

“Last week, we sent a detailed opinion to France concerning the draft law, which is aimed at prohibiting foreign operators from coming to sell their services on the French market,” said Van Lierop.

The Commission claims that the French draft law violates article 49 of the European Union treaty concerning the free provision of services. Van Lierop said that the French have until August 24 to change their draft law or face the possibility of being taken to court.

Observers were taken by surprise by the announcement, as there were reports last week that France’s state betting and gaming monopoly was among the subjects discussed when Jean-Pierre Jouyet, France’s secretary of state for European affairs, had talks in Brussels with Charlie McCreevy, European commissioner for internal market and services.

At the time, a spokesperson for McCreevy said the meeting had been very positive and that an extension had been granted to France to reply to the letter of formal notice sent by the Commission, although no date had been set. The spokesperson added that both men were hopeful of finding a solution to the issues related to European cross-border betting and gaming in France that will be in accordance with the European Treaty.

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