Brussels, 28/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - Greece is to be brought before the Court of Justice (third stage of the infringement procedure) for its persistent failure to comply with EU legislation on nature protection, the European Commission announced on Friday 28 March.
The Commission accuses this member state of failing to provide adequate protection for endangered sea turtles in Kyparissia Bay (in the Western Peloponnese), which is home to one of the most important nesting beaches for caretta caretta loggerhead turtles in the Mediterranean and an area protected under the pan-European network Natura 2000. This failure means that Greece is in breach of the provisions of the habitats directive (Directive 92/43/EEC).
The Greek authorities grant authorisations to a high number of developments and construction activities in this protected area, even though these activities are having a significant negative effect on the endangered turtles. Having received a letter of formal notice in October 2011 and a reasoned opinion in 2012, Greece has admittedly acknowledged the need to adopt measures and draft an action programme together with an implementation timetable. However, nearly 2 years later, little progress has been made and the Commission has learned that the construction work was continuing.
With the nesting period due to start, the European executive has decided to take action against the Greek authorities to insist that they comply with EU law. (AN)