Brussels, 14/09/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has decided to pursue the infringement proceedings initiated against Germany and Italy which, despite an initial call to book, have not forwarded to the Commission the text of the national provisions that should have transposed Community legislation into national law relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuel (Directive 98/70/EEC of the Parliament and Council, adopted in the framework of the "Auto-oil" programme). The deadline for the transposition of this directive (the directive establishes technical specifications applicable to fuels, among which, notably, the prohibition to market leaded petrol) was 1 July 1999. The letter of warning addressed to these two countries in November 1999 having remained unanswered, the Commission has decided to remind them of their obligations by this time addressing them a reasoned opinion.
The Commission stipulates that the exemption granted to Italy to enable it to sell leaded petrol until 2002 in no way dispenses it from the duty to respect the deadline for transposing the directive, including the provision the subject of the exemption.