Brussels, 26/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - In the monthly welter of infringement decisions, released on Thursday 26 September, the European Commission has addressed a reasoned opinion (second stage in the procedure) to several member states which have failed to bring their national laws into line with European environment law, despite their having previously received a letter of formal notice. These countries will have two months to take action, otherwise the Commission may refer them to the Court of Justice of the EU and seek the imposition of financial penalties.
Climate change: the Commission says Poland and Slovenia have failed to transpose into their respective national laws Directive 2009/29/EC which reforms the EU greenhouse gas emission allowance trading scheme (EU ETS), updating it and extending its scope. The deadline for transposition was 31 December 2012.
Industrial emissions: Italy, Cyprus, Slovenia and Romania have still not transposed the new 2010 industrial emissions directive (Directive 2010/75/EC which gathers into one single text all the legislation applicable in the integrated prevention and reduction of industrial pollution) when the deadline for so doing was 7 January 2013. The Commission has called on the four countries to send details of the transposition measures being taken.
Waste from electrical and electronic equipment: Austria has been asked to transpose in full the two directives which seek to encourage the recycling of electrical and electronic waste (Directive 2012/19/EC, known as the DEEE directive) and to restrict the use of certain hazardous substances in this equipment. The Commission says Austria has failed to transpose exemptions for certain equipment containing lead or cadmium. The two directives had to be enacted in national legislation by 2 January 2013.
Groundwater pollution: Estonia has not properly transposed the directive on the protection of groundwater from pollution and deterioration (Directive 2006/118/EC). Most of the shortcomings detected relate to technical details, like a lack of detail in the definitions of pollutants. They must, however, be corrected.
Protection of nature: the Commission is concerned that Spain authorised an irrigation project in the province of Jaén (Andalusia) without previously carrying out an adequate environmental impact study on the impact of the catchment on the water resources, the natural habitats and the species of this protected site. Spain has thus infringed the habitats directive (Directive 92/43/EEC) and the environmental impact assessment directive (Directive 85/337/EEC, currently under review). The provisional limit on water abstraction - the measure taken by Spain in response to the letter of formal notice sent in March of this year - is not sufficient to protect the area, the Commission believes. (AN/transl.fl)