Brussels, 26/07/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission decided on 20 July to pursue infringement proceedings in five cases against Luxembourg for the violation of EU environment legislation. The reasoned opinions sent to Luxembourg relate to gaps in legislation on industrial accidents, inadequate treatment of urban wastewater, emissions trading and integrated water management. In addition to this, Luxembourg has received a first written warning for failing to put in place plans to improve air quality.
The Commission has reproached Luxembourg for the gaps in legislation transposing the Seveso II directive on the prevention of major industrial accidents, the problems being in public information and land-use planning. A reasoned opinion has also been sent to Luxembourg because the Commission does not think that the necessary measures have been taken to guarantee adequate treatment of urban effluent under the urban wastewater treatment directive. It thinks that although Luxembourg has designated all the rivers on its territory as sensitive to eutrophication, it has not met the reduction targets for phosphorous and nitrogen in wastewater entering its treatment plants, which has led to eutrophication of waterways. Luxembourg has also received a reasoned opinion for failure to respect the deadline fixed for submitting a report on its experience with the implementation of the directive on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC). Finally, along with several other member states (see earlier editions), Luxembourg has received a warning for failure to respect the following obligations: - transposing the framework directive on water by 22 December at the latest (reasoned opinion); - adopting and notifying the transposition of the directive establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community by 31 December at the latest (reasoned opinion); - establishing plans to reduce air pollution in areas where the limit values have been exceeded for a certain number of air pollutants by 31 December at the latest (letter of formal notice).