Press Release: Posting of workers: the Commission asks Greece and the Netherlands to end unjustified restrictions

The European Commission on 18 March 2005 decided to formally ask Greece to amend its legislation requiring work permits for non-Community workers legally employed by a Community business that wishes to post them to perform a temporary service in Greece. The Commission's request took the form of a reasoned opinion - the second step in infringement procedure under Article 226 of the EC Treaty. The European Commission also decided to ask the Dutch authorities in a letter of formal notice - the first step in the infringement procedure - to submit its observations on the obligation imposed on service companies in certain new Member States to obtain work permits before posting their workers to the Netherlands.