The European Commission has launched an infringement procedure against Portugal, calling on the country to end its “discriminatory” policy on admission fees for national museums.
In August, Portuguese culture minister Dalila Rodrigues introduced a rule granting Portuguese citizens and residents free access to 37 museums, monuments and palaces for 52 days a year. That was applicable on any day of the week and updated a previous policy where free admission was only available on Sundays and public holidays.
According to the EC on December 16, this new policy unfairly discriminated against visitors from other European Union member states. It argued the rule breached EU laws on the free movement of services.
EU directives on the internal market mandate say member states should ensure equal access to services for those from other countries in the bloc under the same conditions as for their nationals.
“The Commission considers that these [new] rules discriminate against visitors who reside in other member states,” the body wrote.
“These rules constitute one of the fundamental freedoms of the EU single market, promoting cross-border activities and eliminating nationality and residence-based discrimination,” it said.
This infringement procedure aimed to eliminate “nationality-based discrimination,” in the EU single market.
The EC argued that Portugal’s policy was outdated and does not comply with the European Court of Justice regulations.
“The Court of Justice of the European Union established as early as 1994 that visiting museums in another member state falls under the EU rules on the free movement of services.
“The Court also underlined the right of tourists from other member states, as recipients of services, to enjoy those museum services under the same conditions as nationals,” the EC wrote.
Portugal has now two months to respond and address the shortcomings raised by the body.
