29/06/2023 (Agence Europe) – In a ruling handed down on Thursday 29 June (Case C-444/21), the Court of Justice of the European Union found that Ireland had failed to designate 217 sites of Community importance (included on the list drawn up by Decision 2004/813) as special areas of conservation under the Habitats Directive. Of the 423 sites of Community importance identified, the Irish authorities have failed to define detailed site-specific conservation objectives for 140 sites. Nor have they adopted the necessary conservation measures to meet the ecological requirements of certain types of natural habitats and species (Annexes I and II of the Habitats Directive 92/43 as amended by Directive 2013/17) present on the 423 sites of Community importance in question. Ireland was supported by Germany in this case. To see the Court’s judgment, go to https://aeur.eu/f/7su (MB)