BRUSSELS, June 25 (Reuters) - The European Commission ordered Britain and Belgium on Thursday to publish data on how they use public funds for public services or face legal action from the European Union's executive arm.
"The UK and Belgium are the only member states that have not complied with their financial transparency obligations and they must do so promptly," Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said in a statement.
Both countries have two months to notify the Commission on measures taken to implement the EU transparency directive, which requires EU countries to submit to the EU executive financial data on large public firms active in the manufacturing sector.
EU countries were required to implement the directive in national law by Dec. 19, 2006. (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Dale Hudson)