Brussels, 29/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - In the deluge of infringement proceedings on Thursday 28 April, Croatia and Slovenia have each received a reasoned opinion (second stage in the procedure) for their persistent failure to comply with EU environmental legislation on waste management.
The Commission urges Croatia to draw up a waste management plan and a waste prevention programme to come into line with the requirements of Directive 2008/98/EC which aims to reduce the impact of waste on the environment and human health. Croatia has not adopted a national waste management plan for the post-2015 period, or either revised or extended the validity of its 2007-2015 plan. The Commission is also awaiting notification of the adoption of the Croatian waste prevention programme, which should have been in place by 12 December 2013.
Slovenia has been asked to bring all its existing landfills in line with Directive 1999/31/EC, something that should have been done by 16 July 2009. Some 35 existing landfills are still in breach of EU legislation. One landfill for municipal waste (Ostri vrh), which is currently not operating, has yet to obtain a permit for operation. The other 34 existing landfills that Slovenia agreed to close have not been closed and/or rehabilitated.
Despite a previous warning, these two states have yet to resolve their failings. They now have two months to comply, or the Commission may refer them to the Court of Justice. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)