Brussels, 07/04/2000 (Agence Europe) - On Friday, the European Commission announced its decision to initiate infringement proceedings against Italy, Ireland, Spain and France for failure to comply with the obligation to provide environmental information required to help the Commission deal with complaints concerning them. These Member States will be receiving warning letters (first stage of proceedings under Article 226 of the Treaty) for not having complied with the obligation under Article 10 of the Treaty to actively cooperate with the Commission, in response to requests for information allowing for clarification of the claims made by complainants and to communicate the official position of the public authorities concerned on complaints concerning them. These infringement proceedings only concern the lack of cooperation by Member States and not substantive issues. The cooperation of all Member States is, on the whole, satisfactory. The Commission specifies that Spain, Italy and France generally reply in good time to Commission requests. Ireland, on the other hand, usually drags its feet and gives late answers, although recent progress has been noted.
We give below the individual complaints that the Commission would like to examine in order to determine whether or not they are founded: a) Italy: incorrect application of the Framework Waste directive and the Environmental Impact assessment Directives, the Groundwater directive and the Municipal Incinerator Directives; b) France: incorrect application of the Framework Waste Directive and the Groundwater directive and Dangerous Substances directive, and Habitats Directive; c) Spain: incorrect application of the Freshwater Fish Directive, Habitats Directive and Birds and Habitats Directives.; d) Ireland: incorrect application of directives on Environmental Impact Assessment, Dangerous Substances; Freshwater Fish and Framework Waster Directive.
A press release from the spokesman's service stresses that, in order to effectively take action on environmental complaints, the Community executive requires a rapid response from Member States. Margot Wallströl, European Commissioner responsible for this portfolio, considers it "very disappointing to have to resort to legal action just to obtain answers".