EU Takes Germany to Court Over Can Deposit Law

The European Commission opened legal proceedings against Germany's controversial can deposit system Tuesday. EU Internal Market Commissioner Frits Bolkestein has said the law, which requires a 25 cent deposit to be paid for beverages in single-use cans and bottles, discriminates against foreign beverage producers. "We have received many complaints that German shopkeepers are taking drinks that come from other member states out of the shelves, Bolkestein said. German Environment Minister Jürgen Trittin was unperturbed by the commission's actions. "We expected this," he said. Trittin stressed that the Commission had not challenged the nature of the can deposit. Germany has two months to respond to the Commission's concerns. If no consensus is reached, the European Court will be called in to resolve the issue.