§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on what date each member of the European Union implemented the Lawyers Establishment 63W Directive 98/5/EC; and what representations he has made about the continuing failure of France to implement it. [118221]
§ Mr. LammyThe dates on which Directive 98/5/EC was implemented by the various states of the European Union are as follows:
Date Austria 23 May 2000 Denmark 7 April 2000 Finland 1 January 2000 Germany 14 March 2000 Greece 23 May 2000 Italy 18 January 2000 Spain 5 August 2001 Sweden 1 January 2000 Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Portugal have yet to complete formal implementation procedures. Neither France nor Ireland has yet embarked on the process.
Continuing representations made by and on behalf of the legal profession have, with the co-operation of the Paris Bar, secured certain of the benefits which associated with implementation of the Directive. In the light of this and of the action taken by the European Commission, before the European Court of Justice, the Government have taken the view that separate representations from them would not add anything at the present time; however we are continuing to monitor the position.