Brussels, 17/06/2016 (Agence Europe) - The infringement procedure against Austria for non-respect of the EU directive on priority substances in the field of water policy (Directive 2013/39/EU) has taken another step forward, the European Commission announced on Thursday 16 June.
Austria has now received a reasoned opinion (second stage of the procedure) for still not having transposed this directive into domestic law. The directive sets out the value limits for the concentration of chemicals that present a serious risk of water pollution and for protecting environmental and human health. The deadline for meeting this legal obligation was 14 September 2015.
A warning letter was sent to Austria on 20 November 2015 but was not acted upon, as witnessed by the fact that domestic legislation for the enactment of the European directive is currently only at the consultation and assessment stage.
Austria now has two months to comply with EU law, failing which the European Commission refer it to the European Court of Justice. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)