Brussels, 25/07/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has decided to pursue infringement proceedings against eight Member States that, despite several warnings, are still failing to respect Community legislation on waste management. Certain Member States pursued under Article 228 of the treaty will be fined if they continue in their failure to comply with a ruling of the Court of Justice. A case by case examination of the infringement committed and the state of proceedings now follows:
Italy: second warning under Article 228 of the treaty for failure to conform with the ruling o the Court of Justice (C-2001/046) regarding inadequate application of the 95/59/EC Directive on polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated terphenyls (PCBs and PCTs); taken to the Court of Justice (third stage of the proceedings under Article 226 of the treaty) for the persistent non-compliance with the framework directive on waste (75/442/ECC amended by directive 91/156/ECC).
France: final written warning under Article 228 of the treaty for failure to comply with a court ruling (case C-1999/292). Which condemns shortcomings in the application of the three directives (the Framework Waste Directive, the Hazardous Waste Directive and the Packaging Waste Directive (Case C-1999/292) by this Member State (lack of waste management plans covering several departements of Paris and the regions of Corsica, Guadeloupe and French Guyana). France will also receive a final written warning, under Article 226 of the Treaty (second stage), for failing to comply with specific provisions of the Framework Waste Directive in the Pas de Calais.
United Kingdom: letter of final warning for failing to comply with Court ruling (Case C-2000/35) on the framework directive on waste 91/669/CEE on dangerous waste and directive 94/62/EC.
Portugal: Condemned by Court of Justice (Article 226) for non transposal of directive The on the End-Of Life Vehicles Directive (21 April 2002) into national law.
Greece: condemnation by Court of Justice for the large number of illegal or uncontrolled waste disposal sites that receive waste in Greece; a final written warning with regard to illegal waste disposal at Paiania, in eastern Attica, and an unauthorised landfill in Crete; failure to protect the soil when using sludge in farming.
Belgium: is to be referred to the Court of Justice for failing to adopt measures that prioritise the processing of waste oils by regeneration where there is no technical, economic or organisational constraint to prevent it (infringement to directive 75/439/ECC contrary to the Waste Oils Directive.
Ireland: final warning for persistent infringement to framework directive on waste from waste water plants.
Finland: Action before the Court of Justice for persistent breach of the packaging waste directive. This Member State has notified the Commission of its intention to remedy the discriminatory nature of its collection, recycling and recovery system but has not yet adopted the necessary measures.
Commenting on the above decisions, Margot Wallström, Environment Commissioner, said in a press release: "EU waste legislation aims to stop waste from damaging the environment and harming public health. Member States must implement and abide by the relevant legislation, which they have signed up to, if this crucial objective is to be achieved".