CONCERN OVER REPORTED FRENCH MOVES TO AXE EU ACCESSIBILITY CLAUSES

29 June 2007

Details still unclear on French government spokesman's comments

Ripples of concern were widening through EU nations today over reports on a French government spokesman's comment that France's new president Nicolas Sarkozy wants to axe a clause that makes 'free and undistorted competition' a goal for the 27-nation European Union in a draft treaty.

Whilst details of the claim were sparse as we went to press, there were reports that Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany opposed the French proposal, claiming that a number of European countries were facing EC legal action over their protectionist policies that excluded other EU nations from their markets, and that there should be no limits on free competition among EU states.

A spokesperson for the European Commission, Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen, reiterated President Jose Barroso's position that "....there can be no rollback on the achievements of the core policies of the European Union.''

Tom Kelly, who spoke on behalf of Britain's outgoing Prime Minister Tony Blair said the French-inspired move did not mean any "change or challenge to competition'' in the EU but did not elaborate further.

Meanwhile ATE Online reported that in Belgium the Global Competition Law Centre at the College of Europe had expressed "serious concerns'' over the French bid.

"Open and undistorted competition within Europe has been [the goal of the EU] over the past 50 years – and still is – a guarantee of free economic initiative and, ultimately of economic democracy,'' the group said in a statement.

Online Casino News courtesy of InfoPowa