The European Commission Wednesday activated the second and final stage of the infringement procedure against Cyprus, Ireland , Italy, Luxembourg and Romania for failing to implement in national law Directive 2013/25/EU of 13 May 2013 adapting certain Directives in the field of right of establishment and freedom to provide services to the accession of the Republic of Croatia.

According to EC press release issued today, the Directives amended through Directive 2013/25/EU are: Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications, Directive 77/249/EEC to facilitate the effective exercise by lawyers of freedom to provide services and Directive 74/557 EEC on the attainment of freedom of establishment and freedom to provide services in respect of activities of self-employed persons and of intermediaries engaging in the trade and distribution of toxic products.

Member States had to adopt and publish, by the date of accession of Croatia to the Union at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with Directive 2013/25/EU.

Furthermore, they had to immediately communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions.

The above-mentioned Member States did not implement at all or did not implement completely this directive into national law.

The Commission’s requests take the form of reasoned opinions, the second stage of the infringement procedure. If no satisfactory replies from the five Member States concerned are received within two months, the Commission may refer them to the EU Court of Justice.