The European Commission has decided to refer Belgium to the Court of Justice of the EU for failing to implement the Directive on the taking up, pursuit and prudential supervision of the business of electronic money institutions. The Commission has also decided to ask the Court to impose daily penalty payments on Belgium until it fully implements the Directive.
Directive 2009/110/EC was adopted in September 2009 and had to be implemented in all EU Member States by 30 April 2011. Most Member States have adopted implementing legislation. However, Belgium has not yet notified to the Commission any national implementing measures. The Commission sent a reasoned opinion to Belgium in April.
If the Directive is not fully implemented in all Member States, companies cannot reap the benefits of a clear legal framework designed to strengthen the internal market while ensuring an adequate level of prudential supervision.
The Commission proposes a daily fine of € 59 212.80 which would be paid as from the date of the Court’s ruling until Belgium notified the Commission that it had fully implemented the rules into national law.
These financial penalties are proposed by the Commission under the Lisbon Treaty and take into account the duration and the gravity of the infringement and the size of the Member State. The final decision on the penalties rests with the Court. Here to read more.
