On 3 September 2008, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) will negotiate the future of pharmacies in Europe. In a hearing of joint cases, the German and the Italian ban on outside ownership are up for discussion. If the national regulations are overturned in Luxembourg, pharmacy laws in numerous other EU countries will also become insecure.

The registrar of the ECJ has referred the case to the Grand Chamber which consists of 13 judges. The preliminary ruling of Germany and the infringement proceedings against Italy will be carried out by the judges Vassilios Skouris, Peter Jann, C.W.A. Timmermanns, A. Rosas, K. Lenaerts, J. Malenoscky, T. von Danwitz, J. Makarczyk, J.-C. Bonichot, P. Küris, P. Lindh, E. Juhász and L. Bay Larsen. The Frenchman Yves Bot will be Advocate General.

Besides the suitors of the German case, the Italian and German governments as well as representatives from Greece, Finland, France, Latvia, Austria and Spain argue for the preservation of the ban on outside ownership. On the opposite side, the European Commission, the government of Saarland, DocMorris and Poland as the only EU member country argue that a ban on outside ownership violates Community law.

The reference for preliminary rulings from Germany is about the Dutch mail-order pharmacy DocMorris that opened a pharmacy in Saarbruecken 2006 despite the effective ban on outside ownership. The infringement proceedings of the European Commission against Italy apparently traces back to the pharma business group Celesio from Stuttgart that complained to the Commission about effective regulations in Italy in 2004 already.

The dossier "SHOWDOWN IN LUXEMBOURG", published by APOTHEKE ADHOC, provides detailed information about the respective preliminary rulings and infringement proceedings of the European Commission against several EU member states. On 28 pages it reveals exclusive and fascinating details: Interviews, critical analyses of the statements and reports submitted by the various parties, and portraits of the key players involved. The dossier answers the questions of who the people largely were behind the initiation of the proceedings in the various countries, and what their aims were in doing so.

The last dossier "The Norwegian Case", sold all across Europe, explored the impacts that liberalisation of the health sector would have on patients and the occupational groups involved. With its new dossier "SHOWDOWN IN LUXEMBOURG", the editorial team from APOTHEKE ADHOC has set a benchmark for intensive journalistic treatment of a complex health and socio-political issue.

The dossier "SHOWDOWN IN LUXEMBOURG" is available in German and in English at the price of 49 euros.

Please order online: www.apotheke-adhoc.de/dossier_order.php

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