EU directive blacklist

The Netherlands and Luxembourg have joined Ireland and France in facing legal action from the European Commission for failing to implement the Rights of Establishment Directive for lawyers.The directive entitles lawyers to practise permanently and without restriction, under their home professional title, in another member state.

It also makes it easier to requalify.Last year, the Commission questioned Spain, France, Ireland, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Portugal about how they were implementing the directive.In October, the Commission warned France and Ireland that they faced legal action if they did not demonstrate willingness to implement the directive, and it was assumed that the other countries on the warned list were in the clear.But late last month, the Commission reopened infringement proceedings against the Netherlands and Luxembourg.June O'Keefe, the Brussels-based Law Society head of EU and WTO affairs, said: 'Last year the Commission was convinced they were pushing implementation through, but that's no longer the case.'A senior Commission official said Ireland has tabled implementation provisions before the Dil, and hopes to pass legislation soon.

But France has not made a similar move.Jeremy Fleming