Brussels, 18/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - The Commission has called on the United Kingdom to abide fully by a January 2007 European Court of Justice ruling, after it infringed directive 91/271/EEC on urban waste water treatment. A first warning has been sent to London.
The UK will have to remedy two problems. Seven towns of over 15,000 inhabitants (Bangor, Brighton, Broadstairs, Coleraine, Donaghadee, Margate and Portrush) do not have adequate wastewater treatment facilities. Six other towns now have such facilities in place, but the Commission has asked that they be checked to ensure they comply with the directive.
If the Commission has to take the matter to the Court for a second time, the United Kingdom could face financial penalties under Article 228 of the Treaty.
At the same time, the Commission welcomes the steps taken by British authorities to tackle illegal waste exports, through its increased cooperation with Irish authorities. (A.N.)