22/07/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Friday the European Commission decided to send Austria a Reasoned Opinion to ask it to step up its national programme for combating water pollution due to agricultural nitrates, which is felt to leave too many loopholes. Austria is being requested to bring its legislation in line with the 1991 nitrates directive. If Austria fails to respond satisfactorily in the next two months, the Commission can take the case to the Court of Justice.