Implementation and enforcement of EU environmental law
12.7.2021
Major interpellation for written answer G-001001/2021
to the Commission
Rule 139
Sven Giegold, Margrete Auken, Rosa D'Amato, Bas Eickhout, Eleonora Evi, Martin Häusling, Grace O'Sullivan, Jutta Paulus, Marie Toussaint
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Europe has strong laws to protect people, animals and the environment. But these rules are often implemented only half-heartedly or not at all by the Member States or the regions[1].
- 1.Croatia, Germany, and Spain have not once met their national NH3 emissions ceilings[2]. When will the Commission start infringement procedures to enforce the NEC Directive[3]?
- 2.More than half of the Member States are at high risk of not complying with the emission reduction commitments for 2020-2029 or 2030[4]. When will the Commission start infringement procedures to enforce Article 6 NEC Directive?
- 3.Air pollution continues despite infringement procedures. When will the Commission refer INFR(2008)2186[5], INFR(2013)2177[6] and INFR(2016)2005[7] to the Court and propose financial sanctions in case INFR(2008)2199[8]? How will the Commission avoid such delays in the future?
- 4.Denmark is failing to reduce nitrogen pollution from agriculture in breach of the Water Framework[9], Nitrates[10] and Habitats Directives[11]. When will PILOT 8540/16/ENVI, opened in 2016, result in infringement procedures?
- 5.The use of pesticides is not minimised. 45 % of public sites in South Tyrol near intensively managed agricultural areas are contaminated. When will the Commission open infringement procedures to enforce Article 12 Pesticides Directive[12]?
- 6.In a Special Area of Conservation protected by the Habitats Directive, Ireland’s largest freshwater mussel colonies face extinction from agricultural slurry. When will the Commission start infringement procedures?
- 7.France allows bottom trawling and dredge fishing in Natura 2000 sites without appropriate impact assessments. When will the Commission start infringement procedures to enforce the Habitats Directive?
- 8.Malta continues to allow spring hunting during peak migration of the endangered turtle dove despite an ongoing infringement procedure[13]. When will the Commission refer the case to the Court?
- 9.Illegal logging of Europe’s last natural forests in Romania continues despite an ongoing infringement procedure[14]. When will the Commission refer the case to the Court?
- 10.Illegally harvested Myanmar teak enters the EU in breach of the Timber Regulation[15]. When will the Commission open infringement procedures against Italy, Greece, Croatia and Sweden?
- 11.Member States are not on track to comply with the Water Framework Directive by 2027[16]. When will the Commission open infringement procedures?
- 12.Heavy metal emissions from the San Finx tin and tungsten mine in Spain are polluting Natura 2000 sites in breach of the Habitats and Water Framework Directives. Following two complaints, when will the Commission open infringement procedures?
- 13.Millions of diesel cars continue to use defeat devices. When will the Commission refer INFR(2016)4141[17] to the Court?
- 14.Market surveillance authorities of the German äԻ are not performing appropriate controls of consumer products and penalties are not dissuasive. When will the Commission open infringement procedures following the 2020 complaint?
- 15.Except France, virtually no Member State enforces nano‑labelling requirements in accordance with the Food Labelling Regulation[18]. When will the Commission open infringement procedures?
- 16.Ϸվ’s ANIT Committee[19] revealed repeated and documented breaches of animal transport legislation[20]. When will the Commission open conclusive infringement procedures?
- 17.Can the Commission explain its current approach to the prioritisation of infringements and how this changed with the adoption of the Green Deal?
- [1] More information on all examples outlined herein can be found at: https://sven-giegold.de/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Major-Interpellation-EU-ENV-implementation.pdf
- [2]ٳٱ://ɷɷ..ܰDZ貹./ٳ/岹ٲ-Ի-/岹Dz/Ա-徱پ-岹ٲ-ɱ-3
- [3] Directive (EU) 2016/2284 of the European Ϸվ and of the Council of 14 December 2016 on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants, amending Directive 2003/35/EC and repealing Directive 2001/81/EC.
- [4] Commission report of 26 June 2020 on the progress made on the implementation of the NEC Directive (COM(2020)0266).
- [5] Against Czechia.
- [6] Against Italy.
- [7] Against Belgium.
- [8] Against Poland.
- [9] Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Ϸվ and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy.
- [10] Council Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources.
- [11] Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora.
- [12] Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Ϸվ and of the Council of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for Community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides.
- [13](2020)2345.
- [14](2020)2033.
- [15] Regulation (EU) No 995/2010 of the European Ϸվ and of the Council of 20 October 2010 laying down the obligations of operators who place timber and timber products on the market.
- [16] Commission report of 26 February 2019 on the implementation of the Water Framework Directive and the Floods Directive (COM(2019)0095).
- [17] Against Germany.
- [18] Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Ϸվ and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers.
- [19] Committee of Inquiry on the Protection of Animals during Transport.
- [20] Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 of 22 December 2004 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations.
Last updated: 29 July 2021