ECJ rebukes France over failure to back practice regime

France has been condemned by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for failing to implement the Rights of Establishment Directive for lawyers.

The directive, which came into force in 2000, allows EU lawyers to practise permanently in any member state using their home title.

It also allows them to take on the professional title of the host state if they practise its home law or European law for three years.

France pleaded guilty over its failure to fulfil its obligations and has been ordered by the ECJ to pay costs and start implementation.

June O'Keefe, the Brussels-based Law Society head of EU, said: 'There is a new government in France, a new Ministry of Justice and I know they are looking at changing their lawyer rules, so things are moving slowly at present.'

Andrew Towler