The EC decided to send reasoned opinions to the Czech Republic and Hungary on the grounds of obstacles to the freedom of establishment and to the freedom to provide services.

Under the Czech and Hungarian law a single collecting society may be authorised to operate in their respective countries for each type of right and work. This monopoly granted to national companies bans collecting societies to undertake any form of activity outside national borders and denies them the freedom of establishment and the freedom to provide services. The EC is suspicious of the justification for these national measures, and is concerned of the negative effects the monopoly has on the two fundamental freedoms enshrined in the EC Treaty.

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To access the EC’s press release, please click here.