# CE2004084EN.01081501.xml

| 3.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 84/815 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 84/815

---

(2004/C 84 E/0910)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0595/04

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(26 February 2004)

Subject:   Horse racing prizes in Greece

Subject:

| 1. | Will the Commission confirm whether it has received any complaints concerning discrimination by the Greek Jockey Club against owners whose winners are bred outside Greece, notably in Britain and Ireland? |
| --- | --- |

1.

Will the Commission confirm whether it has received any complaints concerning discrimination by the Greek Jockey Club against owners whose winners are bred outside Greece, notably in Britain and Ireland?

| 2. | Will it confirm that a proportion of the prize money is withheld by the Greek racing authorities if the horse is bred outside Greece? If so, does it agree that this represents prima facie evidence of discrimination against the nationals of another Member State? |
| --- | --- |

2.

Will it confirm that a proportion of the prize money is withheld by the Greek racing authorities if the horse is bred outside Greece? If so, does it agree that this represents prima facie evidence of discrimination against the nationals of another Member State?

| 3. | Is it investigating the case? On what timescale does it expect to reach a conclusion that upholds the Treaty provisions against discrimination? Can arrangements be made for the reimbursement of prize money unfairly withheld from owners with horses bred outside Greece? |
| --- | --- |

3.

Is it investigating the case? On what timescale does it expect to reach a conclusion that upholds the Treaty provisions against discrimination? Can arrangements be made for the reimbursement of prize money unfairly withheld from owners with horses bred outside Greece?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 2004)

(1 April 2004)

The Commission has received a letter claiming that the Greek Jockey Club is withholding prize money from non-Greek-bred race-horses emanating from other Member States. The information provided to date is not sufficient to permit the Commission to ascertain whether, as suggested by the Honourable Member, a proportion of the prize money is indeed withheld by the Greek racing authorities if a horse is bred outside Greece. It is also not yet in a position to ascertain the compatibility with Community law of any such practice, especially since it has not yet received the relevant regulations. More particularly, it is not clear whether the Greek Jockey Club is a private body, a recognised association that has legal autonomy to act in Greece or a public organisation (e.g., whether it is governed by public law). Consequently, it is yet to be determined whether the problem raised will be analysed under competition law or under Internal Market rules.

To permit the Commission to examine the concerns raised regarding the practices of the Greek Jockey Club and to be in a position to register a formal complaint, the Commission has requested additional information from the interested party.

---