France rejects EU warning on discriminatory gambling laws
PARIS: France's government rejected a European Commission warning that the country should abolish discriminatory betting laws, and vowed Thursday to defend them in the European Union's highest court.
The EU threatened France with court action on Wednesday unless it changes a law banning foreign gambling advertising — a ban that stopped a Unibet.com cycling team from taking part in next month's Tour de France.
"France esteems that the restrictions existing in the exploitation of gambling and betting comply with the conditions posed by the European Court of Justice," the Finance Ministry said in a strongly worded statement.
The French government argued that public interest was more important than competition rules, and justified national restrictions on gambling.
EU law mandates that gambling, like any other good or service, should be provided freely throughout the bloc's 27 nations, without being restricted by national barriers or other laws restricting pan-EU competition.
The French Finance Ministry said the European Court of Justice authorizes restrictions to the freedom of service suppliers when they are justified by the general public interest.
The European Commission also told Sweden to end limits on sports gambling services, and said the two countries effectively block companies based in other EU countries from doing business there. It also ordered Athens to supply more information to check whether its rules were within EU norms.
It gave them all two months to make changes to bring their rules in line with EU law before it seeks a court ruling that would force them to change national legislation or risk fines.
The EU threatened France with court action on Wednesday unless it changes a law banning foreign gambling advertising — a ban that stopped a Unibet.com cycling team from taking part in next month's Tour de France.
"France esteems that the restrictions existing in the exploitation of gambling and betting comply with the conditions posed by the European Court of Justice," the Finance Ministry said in a strongly worded statement.
The French government argued that public interest was more important than competition rules, and justified national restrictions on gambling.
EU law mandates that gambling, like any other good or service, should be provided freely throughout the bloc's 27 nations, without being restricted by national barriers or other laws restricting pan-EU competition.
The French Finance Ministry said the European Court of Justice authorizes restrictions to the freedom of service suppliers when they are justified by the general public interest.
The European Commission also told Sweden to end limits on sports gambling services, and said the two countries effectively block companies based in other EU countries from doing business there. It also ordered Athens to supply more information to check whether its rules were within EU norms.
It gave them all two months to make changes to bring their rules in line with EU law before it seeks a court ruling that would force them to change national legislation or risk fines.