Brussels, 18/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has decided to continue with infringement proceedings begun against Poland and Belgium, which, despite a number of warnings, still have failed to comply with certain EU environmental directives. The decisions, adopted on the recommendation of Commissioner Janez Potoènik, are part of a flood of procedures announced against member states on Wednesday (see EUROPE 10318 and 10317).
Protection of nature. Poland will be referred to the European Court of Justice (third stage of the procedure) for failing to fully transpose the directive on the protection of wild birds (79/409/EEC).
The Commission says that Polish law does not cover all species of birds living in Europe, allows too wide exemptions and contains additional exceptions which clearly go beyond the intentions of European law. In response to a reasoned opinion sent in January, Poland agreed, in March, to amend its domestic law but the amendments have not yet been adopted.
Protection of the seas. Poland will be sent a reasoned opinion (second stage in the procedure) for failing to inform the Commission about the transposition of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. This text, the cornerstone of the marine environment strategy, aims to ensure that the environmental status of Europe's seas (Mediterranean, Baltic, Black Sea, North-East Atlantic and the waters around the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands) is good by 2020.
Air quality. Both Belgium and Poland have persistently infringed Directive 2008/50/EC which, for the first time, introduces a limit on airborne concentrations of fine dust particles (known as PM2.5). A second reasoned opinion will be sent to Belgium which, despite receiving a first reasoned opinion on 23 November 2009, has still not informed the Commission of measures to transpose the directive. Poland will receive a first reasoned opinion for failing to inform the Commission of all its transposition measures (a letter of formal notice on 16 July 2010 having failed to elicit a response). (A.N./transl.rt)