Brussels - An Italian woman, Ms Donatella Calfa, has successfully challenged in the European Court of Justice (ECJ) her expulsion for life from Greece following conviction there on a minor drugs charge, writes Patrick Smyth, European Correspondent. The case is seen as an important affirmation of Europe-wide citizenship rights.
The EU's court in Luxembourg yesterday held that the mandatory provisions of the Greek law which require the permanent expulsion of non-nationals on conviction is in breach of important EU treaty rights. The court took the view that the "freedom to provide services" includes the freedom of tourists to go to member-states to avail of them, and although criminal law is the preserve of member-states' national competences it must still conform to basic treaty principles.