Bathers: EU, letter to Italy for 'constructive solution'
This was confirmed by an EU Commission spokesperson. The European Commission is writing to Italy to resolve differences over beach concessions, with a focus on tenders and compensation.
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On 7 July, the European Commission sent a letter to the government of Italy in the context of differences of opinion on the issue of beach concessions. This was stated by EU executive spokesman Thomas Regnier in Brussels, responding to a question on the issue at the mid-day briefing in Brussels and stating that the purpose of the letter is to facilitate an agreed solution with Rome on the issue.
The 'dialogue with the Italian authorities', assures Regnier, 'continues, of course, to ensure that a constructive solution can be reached regarding the beach concessions in Italy'. In this context, 'I can confirm that, as part of our dialogue with the Italian government, a letter was sent to Italy on 7 July, precisely in this direction, to find a constructive solution with our Italian friends'.
Litigation ongoing for years
On the failure to put concessions for bathing establishments out to tender, the EU has a dispute that has dragged on for many years with Italy, and which has remained unresolved under different governments.The dispute has for years seen Brussels and Rome on opposing sides. An infringement procedure, for non-compliance with the Bolkestein directive, was initiated five years ago: beach concessions, according to EU law, must be put out to tender (since 2007). The criticism made by the EU executive concerns in particular the compensation that should be paid to outgoing concessionaires.
