Brussels, 30/01/2009 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission announced on Thursday 29 January that it had begun infringement procedures against 10 member states that had allowed 4,000 industrial installations to operate without the permits that ensure they minimised polluting emissions. Denmark and Ireland have been sent first warning letters while eight others (Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain) have been sent reasoned opinions (the second stage in the procedure, before referral to the Court of Justice). The permits should have been issued by 30 October 2007.
Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said it was “unacceptable” that industrial installations were operating without legal permits that ensure they minimise polluting emissions. Permitting procedures had been agreed by all member states, “to protect the health of our citizens and the environment they must be respected,” he said.
The member states have infringed the European directive on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC), the aim of which is to prevent and control industrial emissions to air, water, and soil. This directive required member states to issue new permits or review and - where necessary - update existing permits, by 30 October 2007, for all industrial installations that were in operation before 30 October 1999. For Bulgaria and Slovenia, new or updated permits had to be issued for industrial installations in operation by the date of their accession to the EU. Data provided by member states themselves showed that 10 still have a high number of installations for which new or updated permits have not been issued. These total over 4,000 out of about 52,000 targeted industrial installations throughout the EU. (L.C./transl.rt)