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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13757
Contents Publication in full By article 26 / 34
BREACHES OF EU LAW / Environment

Bulgaria, Lithuania, Portugal and Sweden referred to EU Court of Justice for non-compliance with reductions in atmospheric pollutants

On Friday 21 November, the European Commission referred Bulgaria, Lithuania, Portugal and Sweden to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to meet their commitments under the Directive on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants (the NEC Directive).

Under the NEC Directive, each Member State is required to comply with national emission reduction commitments every year between 2020 and 2029, before committing to deeper cuts from 2030 onwards. 

Ammonia (NH₃) emissions were not reduced in Bulgaria, Portugal and Sweden, while nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) were not reduced in Lithuania. 

The failings of the four Member States are deemed to be persistent, despite the European Commission sending reasoned opinions in November 2023.

Five other Member States concerned at this date are not being referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union. (Original version in French by Florent Servia)

Contents

SECTORAL POLICIES
CLIMATE: COP30 negotiations stall over fossil fuels, EU considers draft agreement insufficient
ENVIRONMENT: EPP rejects S&D and Renew Europe compromise ahead of European Parliament vote on ‘anti-imported deforestation’ regulation
FOOD SAFETY: European Commission will propose to make authorisation period for active substances in pesticides unlimited
HEALTH: Netherlands calls for ambitious legislation on biotechnology in Europe
ANIMAL HEALTH: exclusion of equines from food chain is due to a lack of suitable medicines, according to European Commission
ENERGY: ‘REPowerEU’ - co-legislators study possibility of bringing forward exit date for Russian gas via pipelines after 2026-2027 winter
ENERGY: Norway and EU must both work on legislation to improve interconnectivity, says Dan Jørgensen
DIGITAL: Social Democratic group still wants to ban access to platforms by minors under 13
DIGITAL: ‘omnibus’ simplification package marks start of long battle over EU’s digital framework
TRANSPORT: European co-legislators manage to reach agreement on certain points of review of passenger rights, without tackling thorny issues
TRANSPORT: EU Council in process of defining its negotiating position on revised directive on weights and dimensions for lorries
CONSUMERS: European Parliament calls for additional and urgent measures against Shein’s abuses
COHESION: according to Raffaele Fitto, strategy for eastern border regions is scheduled for first quarter of 2026
EXTERNAL ACTION
INDO-PACIFIC: faced with Russia and China, EU intends to strengthen its strategic presence in region
TRADE: EU countries to try to convince Washington to lower its tariffs on Monday 24 November
AFRICA: twenty-five years after Cairo summit, Europeans and Africans to meet in Luanda to renew their partnership
UKRAINE: Europeans consult urgently after US-Russian ‘peace plan’ is revealed
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
G20: at start of Johannesburg Summit, Europeans support priorities of South African Presidency
TAXATION: OECD updates model convention to take account of growth in cross-border remote work and clarify taxation of natural resources
STATE AID: green light for Czech State aid for a new semiconductor manufacturing facility
INSTITUTIONAL
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: MEPs to discuss Chinese trade restrictions, protection of young people online and combating deforestation
BREACHES OF EU LAW
SOCIAL/EMPLOYMENT: European Commission refers Greece to CJEU over its national legislation on family benefits, deemed discriminatory
BANKS: Italy criticised for decree granting ‘golden power’ for bank takeovers
SLOVAKIA: primacy of EU law - European Commission launches infringement proceedings against recent Slovak constitutional amendments
FISHERIES: Netherlands ordered to ensure compliance with rules on weighing and inspecting catches
ENVIRONMENT: Bulgaria, Lithuania, Portugal and Sweden referred to EU Court of Justice for non-compliance with reductions in atmospheric pollutants
ENVIRONMENT: Poland referred to EU Court of Justice for failing to comply with nitrogen dioxide limit values in two conurbations
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
WOMEN’S RIGHTS: Hadja Lahbib calls for priority to be maintained, “no matter how the political winds blow” at international conference against feminicide
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: ILGA-Europe calls for action against LGBTI homelessness, scourge that remains too invisible
NEWS BRIEFS
DEFENCE: simplification of EU rules to facilitate investment and production - Copenhagen yet to receive its mandate on ‘Omnibus V’ package
ENERGY: Europe well prepared for winter to guard against electricity supply risks, according to ENTSO-E
COMPANIES: corporate sustainability ‘Omnibus’ - Danish Presidency of EU Council hopes to reach an agreement with European Parliament in early December
TAXATION: Council of EU updates cooperation agreements with Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco and San Marino
SEA: EU prepares for first COP to BBNJ Agreement on marine biodiversity