France’s €3 book delivery fee challenged in EU court by Amazon

E-commers giant Amazon has complained to the EU that a €3 book delivery charge brought in by the French government is ‘protectionist’ and in breach of the bloc’s laws. 

In 2023 France instituted a flat €3 delivery fee for books ordered online for home delivery, if the total cost of the book/s was under €35.

It did not apply for orders made directly with local bookstores for readers to then collect, and was intended to defend the country’s independent bookstores by enticing readers to go in-store.

Amazon was quick to criticise the law, and took their complaints to the EU, presenting their case yesterday (April 3, 2025) at the Court of Justice.

“This is an economic measure by a member state for the protection of its bricks and mortar retailers. It is a discriminatory measure which only benefits retailers with a physical presence in France,” said lawyer Yann Utzschneider on behalf of Amazon. 

“This is a protectionist measure in complete breach of EU laws,” he added. 

Mr Utzschneider said the rule breaches e-commerce directives from the bloc and that “France can't be allowed to carve up the single market to suit their own national interests.” 

In the meantime, Amazon has attempted to circumvent the charge, including via the use of pick-up lockers where books can be delivered for free and then collected by customers.

Read more: Amazon tests free book delivery despite law designed to ban it

For its part, the French government argued the measure was necessary to protect smaller retailers against the advantages held by online providers. 

“The major retailers are using their delivery methods as a way of creating a new type of competition on the book market,” said lawyer for the French government Brice Fodda to the EU during the case. 

“These companies have taken advantage of the fact that they are large players, and they are able to offer a free delivery service or a very cheap delivery service,” he added.

Court criticises France 

The EU originally cast doubt on the measure, with the European Commission saying it struggled to see how the move would positively affect independent retailers. 

However, it did not go so far as to prevent the law from coming into force. 

At the hearing yesterday however, the EU further criticised France: “This measure clearly has an economic background, to modify competition to the detriment of Amazon,” said judge Bruno Stromsky. 

He reiterated the bloc’s view that the measure was unlikely to benefit the 3,000+ independent bookstores in France given that they represent the ‘densest network’ in the world. 

A final ruling will be given in the coming months.