Brussels, 05/04/2006 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission will take legal action against Spain on several cases of violation of EU environmental law. The Commission sent a first written warning to Spain for not having executed a ruling of 28 April 2005 for not complying with EU legislation on waste in the case of the Punta de Avalos landfill, on La Gomera Island (Canary Islands). This landfill is close to the sea and located on a site which is part of the EU-wide Natura 2000 network of protected areas. Despite the Commission's demands, in May 2005, the answer by the Spanish authorities was not satisfactory: the area still needs to be restored to its original natural state and a future management plan needs to be devised.
The Commission will also send first written warnings to Spain in three cases for having breached the EU directives: 1) the “M-30 ring-road” in Madrid which aims to build a by-pass around Madrid. This project was not accompanied by an impact study included in Directive 85/337/EEC; 2) the Cabo de Gata-Nijar project is situated in the "El Algarrobico" beach, in the protected nature area of (province of Almería, Andalucía) which is part of the EU's Natura 2000 network. Protective measures have not been taken to safeguard the relevant ecological interests of the site, as required by the Habitats Directive; 3) the "Las Atalayas project. This project also failed to provide an impact assessment of an urban development project situated in a nature area protected in the framework of the EU's Natura 2000 network.
The Commission has decided to close a case concerning three landfills at Torreblanca, Andalucía), Santalla and Sa Roca, following measures undertaken by the Spanish authorities to comply with an earlier judgement of the Court of 12 June 2003.