Brussels, 16/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - Poland and Romania have been referred to the European Court of Justice (third stage of infringement proceedings) because despite having received several reminders to comply, these two member states have still failed to respect EU environmental legislation.
Poland is being referred to court for failing to properly implement EU legislation on end-of-life vehicles (ELV) (Directive 2000/53/EC), which sets clear quantified targets for the re-use, recycling and recovery of vehicles and their components, and it also pushes manufacturers to produce new vehicles with a view to their recyclability. The Commission criticised Poland's implementation of the collection and recycling system required. The shortcomings highlighted by the Commission in 2009 were all acknowledged by Poland but Polish legislation does not include any obligation to collect used vehicles that can be reused, which discriminates against vehicles registered outside of Poland. Polish Legislation announced in 2013 to rectify these shortcomings has still not been adopted.
The European Commission is taking Romania to Court for failure to comply with EU legislation on mining waste (Directive 2006/21/EC). The case concerns the Bosneag pond, a 102-hectare tailing pond that holds waste extracted from copper and zinc mines in Moldova Noua, Romania, and which is currently in a state of almost complete abandonment. The pond is a major source of pollution, spreading toxic dust that poses significant risks for human health and the environment. Romania had agreed to address the problem, but progress has been insufficient. Owing to the seriousness of the risk in this case, the Commission is taking Romania to the EU Court of Justice, with a view to ensuring faster remedial work. (AN)