Press Release: Internal market: infringement proceedings against Italy in respect of service stations (fuel distribution)

The European Commission decided to bring Italy before the Court of Justice because of national restrictions on the establishment of service stations. The Commission considered that the Italian provisions are contrary to Article 43 of the EC Treaty, which provides for freedom of establishment within the European Union. The rules in question, which are laid down at both national and regional level with regard to the retail distribution of fuel, impose a number of restrictions which make it impossible or in any case extremely difficult for new competitors from other EU Member States to enter the Italian market.