On Thursday 13 July, the European Commission sent a reasoned opinion to Italy because the country is not doing enough to halt the spread of a damaging tree-disease bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, which is killing olive trees in the Puglia region.
The Commission says the Italian authorities should have immediately removed the infected plants as soon as the presence of Xylella fastidiosa was confirmed under EU legislation, including implementing decision 2015/789 of 18 May 2015 on measures to avoid the introduction and spread of Xylella fastidiosa in the European Union.
New outbreaks in Italy were notified, but the timetable communicated by Italy was ineffective to ensure the immediate removal of the infected trees as required by EU legislation, says the Commission in a press release. The Commission has already sent Italy two warning letters, one in December 2015 and one in July 2016 (see EUROPE 11599). Italy now has two months to carry out its duties, failing which the Commission may decide to send the country to the European Court of Justice. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)