The European Commission has decided to refer Slovakia and Ireland to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) on Thursday 2 July for failure to comply with the EU directive on the conservation of natural habitats and wild fauna and flora, known as the Habitats Directive (92/43).
Slovakia. In the Commission’s view, the Slovak legislation still does not ensure that felling activities in Slovak forests that may affect Natura 2000 sites (EU sites of high natural heritage value) are subject to a prior assessment of their impact on the site.
It also criticises the Slovak authorities for failing to take appropriate measures to reduce logging and to prevent the deterioration of the habitat of the capercaillie, a protected bird species.
Finally, the institution considers that Slovakia has not correctly transposed or implemented another directive, the directive on the conservation of wild birds (2009/147), because the country has yet to adopt special conservation measures for seven of these special protection areas (the territories considered most suitable for the conservation of the species covered by the directive).
Ireland. In the case of Ireland, the Commission criticises the country for failing to fulfil its obligation to designate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) under the Habitats Directive.
Out of the 423 sites in Ireland listed by the Union as Sites of Community Importance (SCIs), 154 have not yet been designated as SACs, although the Directive requires this to be done within six years of registering as SCIs. However, the deadline expired more than five years ago, according to the Commission. (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)