Brussels, 06/04/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has begun infringement proceedings against France who, despite many reminders, persists in flouting Community nature conservation legislation (Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds and Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild flora and fauna). A first written warning will be sent to France under Article 228 of the Treaty which can lead to financial sanctions. On receiving the warning France will be required to comply with a 2002 ruling of the European Court of Justice (Case C-202/01) that it had not designated enough nature sites for the conservation and protection of rare or endangered birds. The French authorities have appreciably increased the number of protected areas since, but their territorial coverage remains derisory compared to what it should be (2.1% of France's territory instead of 8.1%). If France fails to comply, it will receive a reasoned Opinion as a final warning before the Commission can ask the Court to impose a fine.