Press Release: Broadcasting services: Commission refers Germany to Court over allocation of radio spectrum

The European Commission decided on 24 July 2003 to refer Germany to the Court of Justice over media law in the 'Land' (region) of Rheinland-Pfalz, which in the Commission's view is discriminatory and infringes the principle of freedom of establishment. The Commission believes that some provisions of this law and the way the authorities apply them give preference to local terrestrial radio broadcasters in the granting of licences and thus discriminate against broadcasters from other EU countries.