Brussels, 09/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 8 October, the European Commission decided to begin or to continue infringement procedures against a number of member states for their failure to comply with Community environment law.
The United Kingdom will be referred to the European Court of Justice (third stage in the procedure under Article 226 of the Treaty) for persistent failure to comply with directive 91/271/EEC on urban waste water. The waste water collecting systems and treatment facilities in London and Whitburn in north-east England are being allowed to spill untreated waste waters too frequently and in excessive quantities. The Commission says, too, that treatment capacity for the waste waters collected in London is in need of improvement.
Romania will be taken to Court for its repeated failure to provide adequate protection for wild birds, required under the terms of directive 79/409/EEC. The Commission reproaches Romania principally for still not having designated 21 areas, covering one million hectares and host to 12 species that are globally threatened, as Special Protection Areas. This is despite a reasoned opinion sent in September 2008.
Bulgaria is set to receive letters of formal notice (the first stage in the procedure) for its failure to provide adequate protection for its natural heritage. These initial warnings, which follow complaints received by the Commission, relate to: - tourist and skiing developments in the Bansko Ski Centre in protected areas of the Pirin Mountains authorised before any proper assessment of their impact and cumulative effects on protected species and habitats had been carried out; - similar failures to assess the impact on protected areas of the spatial development plan for the Tsarevo Municipality where habitats and species in the coastal area are particularly at risk; - Bulgarian nature legislation which is not yet fully in line with the requirements of directive 92/43/EEC, known as the Habitats Directive. “Despite covering only 2.5% of the EU's total area, Bulgaria is home to almost 70% of Europe's protected bird species, and some 40% of its protected habitats. This extraordinary biodiversity must be protected,” said Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas. (A.N./transl.rt)