The European Union Internal Market Commissioner said Tuesday that he would speed up and prioritize legal moves against states that breach EU law such as by blocking cross-border company mergers, according to Reuters.
The European Commission in April launched more than 2,000 legal actions against members of the bloc, its largest batch ever amid protectionism in the core internal market.
The EU executive started more infringement proceedings last week, when it gave France a final warning over a decree that restricts foreign shareholdings in industrial sectors.
But such proceedings are a blunt instrument which can take years before a state ends up in the European Court of Justice as is forced to change its ways.
“I think if it was possible to speed up the process, it would be good. It sometimes gets frustrating that it drags on so long,” Commissioner Charlie McCreevy told reporters.
(Reuters, 17/10/2006)