Brussels, 27/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - On 4 July 2000, Greece was instructed to pay a fine of EUR 20,000 a day for illegal flytipping at Kouroupitos in Crete, infringing Community waste management regulations (Directive 99/31/EC). This case may now be considered closed. On 8 March 2001, Greece informed the European Commission that the tip had been shut down on 26 February. The Commission investigated this claim and found that the tip had in fact been closed. Greece has been fined a total of EUR 4.78 million but has already paid EUR 3.6 million and announced that the first stage of clearing up the site had begun. Temporary provisions for temporary waste storage have been made and a waste management programme is being prepared. At the end of the summer, Greece will be building a compost plant and regulated tipping will be allowed.