Two years after the European Commission has taken Ireland to the European Court of Justice for failing to implement impact assessment rules with respect to the natural and man-made heritage of the countryside (the restructuring of rural landholdings and irrigation projects impacted on wetlands as well as archaeological remains), Ireland is now facing new infringement procedures with respect to not taking up the impacts of substantial demolition in national legislation.

Other infringement procedures have been issued against Italy, Cyprus and Poland. In Italy, more than 50 towns are still using  environmentally hazardous sewage treatment facilities. While this concerns towns with a population between 10.000 and 15.000 people, there is also a case in preparation addressing similar violations in larger towns.  In Cyprus, procedures regarding several landfills do not comply to European EIA rules and in Poland there is no clarity how environmental impacts of sea accidents are going to be dealt with.

Furthermore, the Commission  has issued  17 final warnings for 13 Memberstates among which Cyprus, Ireland, Malta and Slovenia.  These have not yet informed the Commission whether they have properly implemented 2009
renewable energy directive, which was due in late 2010.

Further Sources:

http://www.endseurope.com/23546?referrer=bulletin&DCMP=EMC-ENDS-EUROPE-DAILY

http://www.endseurope.com/23880?referrer=bulletin&DCMP=EMC-ENDS-EUROPE-DAILY

http://www.endseurope.com/24766?referrer=bulletin&DCMP=EMC-ENDS-EUROPE-DAILY

http://www.endseurope.com/28309?referrer=bulletin&DCMP=EMC-ENDS-EUROPE-DAILY