"Showdown in Luxembourg" over pharmacy ownership laws

With the European Court of Justice set to review German and Italian pharmacy laws on September 3, the restrictions on ownership and establishment of several European Union member states are being challenged. The European Commission has launched proceedings against Austria, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain.

Governments throughout Europe are taking steps to defend themselves against the Commission's course of action. Among the issues at stake in the fight about pharmacies in Brussels and Luxembourg, is the central question of whether responsibility for public health is to be determined at national or at European level.

To help in the better understanding of the situation, a new Apotheke AdHoc dossier, "Showdown in Luxembourg," will be released on July 28 in English and is based on research performed across Europe. The 28-page dossier will provide exclusive details on the individual proceedings: interviews, critical analyses of the statements and reports submitted by the various parties. It will answer the questions of who are the people largely were behind the initiation of the proceedings in the various countries, and their aims. For more, visit: www.pharma-adhoc.com.