Brussels, 15/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday, the European Commission decided to take legal action against several Member states for non-compliance with the directive on environmental impact assessment of certain public and private works ("impact" directive). It is hauling Italy before the European Court of Justice for failing to assess or adequately screen a road project in Teramo, Abruzzo. Portugal too is to be hauled before the Court for failing to require that an environmental impact assessment be carried out before the construction of an urban development project in Cascais. Ireland has received a reasoned opinion (second warning) for failing to carry out a prior environmental impact assessment on a peat extraction project in an environmentally sensitive area (Moud's bog, County Kildare). Finally, France has received a reasoned opinion because French legislation has failed to fully implement the EU law.