Brussels, 24/01/2005 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission announced that it had taken another step in infringement procedures against Belgium and Luxembourg, which despite, several reminders, is still not fully respecting Community legislation in the area of the environment. The infringements committed and the ongoing procedures are as follows:
Water Framework Directive: the Commission is referring Belgium to the Court of Justice (third step of the procedure contained in Article 226 of the Treaty) because the Walloon and Brussels Regions have not yet completed their transposition of directive 2003/87/EC on greenhouse gas emission quotas, whereas the deadline set by the Member States expired for this obligation. Luxembourg will also be taken to court because although it communicated draft transposition measures, these national measures have still not been adopted.
Climate change: Belgium will go court for not having transposed directive 2003//87/EC on greenhouse gas emissions, whereas the deadline set for Member States for meeting the deadline was 1 January.
Quality of petrol and diesel: Belgium will be taken to court for failing to transpose directive 2003/17/EC in to national law (amending directive 98/70/EC), whereas the deadline for this expired on 30 June 2003.
Ozone depleting substances: Belgium will receive a “Reasoned Opinion” (second step of the procedure) over incorrect application of the Regulation 2037/2000 on substances that deplete the ozone layer. None of Belgium's three regions has defined minimum qualification requirements for personnel involved in the recovery, recycling, reclamation and destruction of these substances (CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons), HCFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbons), halons and methyl bromide despite the regulation requiring Member States to comply by 31 December 2001.