Question to the European Commission with regard to the Interstate Treaty on Gambling

Question for written answer to the Commission Rule 130 John Stuart Agnew (EFDD)

Subject:  Germany's Interstate Treaty on Gambling

Germany’s apparent ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ (Commission communication SG(2012) D/50777) with the Commission has protected it from an infringement procedure related to its amended Interstate Treaty on Gambling for over two years now. Under the agreement, Germany was obliged to prove the suitability of its gambling law. Although the agreement’s two-year validity period expired on 1 July 2014, no infringement procedure has been initiated to date. This means that a potentially illegal law is still in place. 1. Have other Member States been granted a gentlemen’s agreement before which delayed the initiation of an infringement procedure? 2. Does the Commission deem the amended Interstate Treaty on Gambling and its implementation to be in compliance with EC law? 3. If not, why has the Commission not taken action by means of an infringement procedure without further delay?