Brussels, 26/02/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 26 February, a further step was taken in the infringement procedure in place against Greece for failing to comply with European environmental law. The European Commission has decided to bring this member state before the Court of Justice (third stage of the procedure) over its inadequate treatment of urban wastewater in a number of agglomerations.
Five agglomerations (Prosotsani, Doxato, Eleftheroupoli Galatista and Vagia) are still lacking appropriate treatment facilities as required by the directive on the treatment of urban wastewater (91/271/EEC). And for three other areas (Polichronou, Chanioti and Desfina), the Commission takes the view that the data submitted is either incomplete or shows a failure to comply with the standards.
By virtue of directive 91/271/EEC, the member state had until the end of 2002 to ensure that agglomerations - those with a population range of between 2,000 and 5,000 - properly collect and treat their urban wastewater. (Aminata Niang)