Greece is the subject of a second application to the Court of Justice and this time faces heavy financial sanctions for non-compliance with the requirements of the Directive on the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources (91/676/EEC), the European Commission announced on Thursday 7 March.
Four years after a first Court ruling (C-149/14) in April 2015 condemning Greece for failing to designate all vulnerable areas and adopt action plans to prevent and reduce this type of pollution, the Member State has still not fully complied with the Nitrates Directive. Since April 2015, the Greek authorities have, certainly, designated 12 new vulnerable areas, without drawing up action programmes for these areas, but despite a letter of formal notice in October 2017, nothing has changed. Greece has not even provided a compliance timetable.
Therefore, the Commission is calling on the Court to impose on Greece a lump sum fine of €2,639.35 per day and a daily penalty payment of €23,753.25 from the first judgment until the Greek authorities have remedied their shortcomings.
Excessive concentrations of nitrates can harm fresh waters and the marine environment by promoting eutrophication, the proliferation of algae that suffocates other life forms. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)