Brussels, 17/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - Among the monthly avalanche of infringement proceedings, reasoned opinions (second stage of the procedure) were issued, on Wednesday 16 April, against several member states which, despite initial calls to order, have continued to infringe the environmental or climate legislation of the EU. These countries are under fire for their incomplete transposition of European directives. They will have two months to bring their national legislation into line with EU law, or the European Commission may bring them before the Court of Justice (third stage of the proceedings).
Climate. Germany has been asked fully to transpose Directive 2003/87/EC, which institutes the EU emissions quota trading system (ETS, or the European carbon market).
Poland, the recipient of two reasoned opinions, is firstly requested fully to transpose directive 2009/31/EC on the capture and storage of carbon (so-called CSC directive of the Climate/Energy package of 2009), which establishes the regulatory framework to encourage this technology in full safety to the environment. Secondly, it must transpose all of the provisions of Directive 2009/30/EC on fuel quality, which requires the member states to lay down specifications on health and the environment and reduce by 10% their greenhouse gas emissions produced during the production cycle of fuels used in transport (6% of which will be binding in comparison to 2010 figures).
Environment. Italy is called upon to ensure the adequate protection of a large oak forest in the area of Cascina Tre Pini (Varese, Lombardy), which is part of a protected natural area of the pan-European network Natura 2000. The state of this forest has been in constant deterioration since 2008 and, although Italy has agreed to designate it as a special conservation area, the Commission is still awaiting notification of the management plan and measures for this commitment to be carried out. (AN)