The European Commission has taken action against France, Greece and Spain to correct breaches of EU law on professional qualifications.

The Commission will refer France to the European Court of Justice over its rules on the temporary provision of services by doctors, dentists and midwives established in another Member State. The Commission will also make formal requests to France to modify its laws on the recognition of qualifications for canyoning guides and snowboard instructors. These requests take the form of "reasoned opinions", the second stage of the infringement procedure laid down in Article 226 of the EC Treaty. If there is no satisfactory reply within two months, the Commission may refer the matter to the European Court of Justice.

Meanwhile the Commission has decided, under Article 228 of the EC Treaty, to send Greece a further reasoned opinion requesting it to comply immediately with the 2005 judgment of the Court requiring it to allow companies to open optician outlets. The Commission will also send Greece a reasoned opinion regarding qualifications for doctors.

Finally Spain will be sent a reasoned opinion regarding its recognition of qualifications for hospital pharmacists.

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