Brussels, 28/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - Hungary, Italy and Sweden will receive reasoned opinions (second stage of the infringement procedure) for their persistent infringement of environmental legislation of the EU. The European Commission took this decision on Friday 28 March. If there is no reaction from the three countries within two months, these member states may be brought before the Court of Justice.
Hungary has been asked to take the measures it should have taken to protect its citizens from atmospheric pollution from fine dust (PM10). People living in the region of Budapest, the Sajo Valley and the allotted cities region were exposed to harmful levels of PM10 from 2005 and up to 2012 at least. Citizens in the Pécs region, which had a compliance exemption until June 2011, have also been affected. Italy must bring its legislation into line with the European directive on environmental impact assessments (EIAs) for certain projects (Directive 2011/92/EU). The definition of the notion of “project” in Italian legislation, the provisions regarding public participation in EIA procedures and the scope of certain project categories leave a great deal to be desired. Sweden must provide clarification on the transposition into national law of the new directive on industrial emissions (2010/75/EU), which should have been transposed by 7 January 2013. However, certain provisions, particularly those on authorisation conditions and environmental inspections, have still not been fully transposed into Swedish law. (AN)