Brussels, 19/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - Among the raft of infringement proceedings launched by the European Commission on Thursday 18 June are a number of member states who persist in flouting EU environment legislation despite having received one or more official warnings. They are now being sent 'reasoned opinions' (the second stage in the infringement proceedings) and have two months to deal with the shortcomings, failing which they may be sent to the European Court of Justice.
Italy has been sent an additional reasoned opinion, urging it to ensure that the elimination and management of waste in former dumps complies with the EU discharge directive (1999/31/EEC) that aims to avoid the negative effects of waste on human health, water, soil and the air. The most recent information available to the European Commission shows that at least fifty waste dumps in Italy still do not comply with the rules that should have been cleaned up or closed, and at least one of the sites contains dangerous waste. Under the directive, sites that were in operation in 2001 should have been closed down by 16 July 2009 unless they met the EU rules on the safe running of waste dumps.
Sweden has been sent an additional reasoned opinion asking it to bring wolf-hunting in line with the EU Habitats directive in order to ensure the conservation of this protected animal. By allowing authorised hunting in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015, Sweden has introduced systematic hunting without considering setting up a satisfactory alternative solution and without ensuring that these authorised hunts are carried out in strictly controlled conditions and in a selective and limited manner. Sweden has not demonstrated that hunting prevents the local wolf population from reaching favourable conservation conditions.
Hungary has been sent a reasoned opinion for inadequate management of toxic red sludge (from mining) fining basins at Almásfüzítõ, thus infringing EU waste legislation and the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC. Detailed examination of operations showed that some waste management in the region (rehabilitating plants) was not done correctly and had negative consequences for human health and protection of the environment. In breach of EU rules, toxic waste was mixed with other kinds of waste and the analyses required under the Habitats Directive were not carried out.
In response to a warning letter sent in November 2013, the Hungarian authorities said that analysis of existing practices in the region had begun but was not yet complete. The practices in question continued, however, and the Commission concludes that Hungary has not taken the measures required to remedy the infringement. Hungary now has two months to notify the Commission of measures taken to abide by EU legislation. (Aminata Niang)