Brussels, 04/07/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, the European Commission decided to take action - or pursue action already initiated - against Portugal, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France and Greece for failure to comply with Community legislation on water quality.
Portugal. Although found guilty by the Court of Justice in July 2000, Portugal has not yet provided all the details of its programmes for reducing pollution for substances under the directive on dangerous substances. The Commission has therefore decided to send it a reasoned opinion. It has also decided to refer Portugal to the Court for insufficiently designating areas for protection under the Nitrates Directive. Furthermore, the Commission decided to send Portugal a reasoned opinion for serious infringement concerning the quality norms fixed in the directive on drinking water, mainly norms relating to faecal coliforms, total coliforms and nitrates.
Spain. The Commission decided to take Spain before the Court for failure to comply with the drinking water directive, as nearly 25% of drinking water samples taken from the aquifer in Baix Ter, in Catalonia, exceeded the Directive's 50 milligramme/litre admissible maximum nitrate content. It also decided to send a reasoned opinion to Madrid for repeated infringement of the directive on bathing waters in the Ria de Vigo in Galicia, as controls indicate very high levels of faecal coliforms. The Commission also sent a formal letter of notice to Spain for not having provided sufficient information on the way the directive on urban residual water is applied.
Italy. In November 2001, the Court ruled against Italy for not having adopted the action programme against pollution, or carried out controls or reported to the Commission as required under the Nitrates Directive. No correcting measures have since been taken so the Commission has decided to send it a Letter of Formal Notice.
Sweden. The Commission has decided to send Sweden a reasoned opinion for infringement of the directive on nitrates. It feels that, some time ago, Sweden failed to designate agricultural areas close to certain important lakes (Vanern, Vattern, Hajalmaren and Malaren) as areas vulnerable to pollution by nitrates. Since then, the Swedish authorities have reviewed the situation but have designated no additional areas. The Commission has also decided to send a Letter of Formal Notice to the Swedish authorities as they have not reported on the way the directive on urban wastewater is applied.
France. The Commission also decided to send a Letter of Formal Notice to the French authorities for not having sufficiently provided information on the way the urban wastewater Directive is applied. Neither have the authorities made any general report on the implementation of the directive or given information on sensitive areas.
Belgium. In January 1999, the Court of Justice ruled against Belgium for not having adopted or notified any programme for the reduction of pollution for substances under the dangerous substances Directive. No complete programme is yet available for the Brussels and Wallonia regions. As Belgium has not complied with the ruling, the Commission has decided to send it a reasoned opinion. It has also decided to send a Letter of Formal Notice to the Belgian authorities as they have not provided sufficient information on how the urban wastewater Directive is applied in the regions of Brussels and Wallonia. Neither have they made a general report on implementation, or provided information on sensitive areas.
Luxembourg. In June 1998, the Court ruled against Luxembourg for failing to adopt or notify any programme for reducing pollution by substances under the dangerous substances Directive. Although the Luxembourg authorities had developed measures in the meantime, they have still not notified a complete programme. Luxembourg has not conformed to the ruling, and so the Commission has decided to send it a reasoned opinion.
Netherlands. In May 2001, the Court of Justice ruled against the Netherlands for not having adopted or notified a programme to reduce pollution in the context of the directive on dangerous substances. Although the Dutch authorities have developed measures since then, they have not yet notified a complete programme. As the Netherlands has not complied with the ruling, the Commission has decided to send a Letter of Formal Notice.
Greece. The Commission has decided to send a Letter of Formal Notice to the Greek authorities for not having provided sufficient information on the way in which the directive on urban wastewater is applied. They have not reported on implementation or provided information on industrial sectors.