Brussels, 21/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - In the salvo of the monthly infringement procedures drawn up on Wednesday 21 November by the European Commission, several member states that are persisting in their refusal to respect EU environmental legislation (despite having received a warning) will receive a reasoned opinion (the second stage of the procedure). They will have two months to ensure that their legislation complies with European law, failing which, they could be taken to the European Court of Justice.
Environmental impact studies. Portuguese legislation transposing the directive unduly excludes projects from these assessments when they are covered by a land-use plan (shopping centres and car parks, coastal works, holiday villages and hotel complexes).
GMOs. Poland must amend its legislation to comply with EU rules on monitoring of GMO cultivation. It must ensure that GMO cultivation locations are notified to competent national authorities, recorded in a register established by the member state, and made known to the public. This process ensures that appropriate information is made publically available; permits monitoring of possible effects of GMOs on the environment; and allows the establishment of coexistence measures.
Climate change. Poland has not fully transposed Regulation 842/2006 on fluorinated gases (F-gases). Poland still has to notify the Commission about what penalties have been put in place in case these rules are not observed in relation to companies reducing leaks from equipment containing these gases. The country has also failed to notify the national certification bodies that should train and certify the relevant service personnel and service companies.
Limitation of emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC). Austria, Germany and Italy have failed to notify the Commission about their respective national legislation that is supposed to transpose this 2009 amendment to the 2004/42/EC directive. The deadline was 10 June 2012 at the latest.
Petrol vapour recovery. Austria has failed to notify implementation measures for directive 2009/126/EC on petrol vapour recovery during refuelling of motor vehicles at service stations. Member states had to bring into force the necessary legislation and communicate laws, regulations, and administrative provisions before 1 January 2012. (AN)