The United Kingdom has been referred to the Court of Justice of the EU (third stage of the infringement procedure) for failing to take adequate steps to protect the harbour porpoise, a species protected under EU law, the European Commission announced on Thursday 29 September.
With this decision, the Commission is acting against a persistent infringement of the Habitats Directive (Directive 92/43/EEC) which required member states to propose a list of sites to be included in the pan-European Natura 2000 network of protected natural habitats. Thirteen member states have designated sites to ensure adoption of measures to protect porpoise, the conservation status of which is unfavourable. The UK has so far formally proposed only one small site in Northern Ireland and another in Scotland.
Despite being sent a reasoned opinion in October 2014 enjoining it to comply with European law, the United Kingdom has failed to do so, merely opening a public consultation on a number of potential sites in English and Welsh waters and this month formally proposing one site in Scottish waters. Taking the view that this is not enough, the Commission decided to move to the next stage of the infringement procedure. (Aminata Niang)