The European Commission decided on Thursday 7 March to refer Italy to the European Court of Justice over two cases concerning air pollution and inadequate waste water treatment. In both cases, Italy has remained deaf to previous reminders of order.
Air quality. The Commission criticises Italy for failing to comply with the limit values for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) set by the Ambient Air Quality Directive (2008/50/EC) and applicable since 2010, and for failing to take appropriate measures to reduce pollution levels in 10 agglomerations in which some 7 million people live. 13 other Member States are subject to infringement proceedings for exceeding the NO2 limit values (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Denmark and the United Kingdom).
Wastewater treatment. 620 agglomerations in 16 regions (Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lazio, Liguria, Lombardy, Marche, Puglia, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany, Umbria, Valle d'Aosta and Veneto) are in violation of EU rules on the collection and treatment of urban waste water (Directive 91/271/EEC). This requires Member States to ensure that all agglomerations with more than 2,000 inhabitants are equipped with waste water collection systems and that waste water entering the collection systems is treated appropriately before being discharged. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)