Finland in the dock over squirrel neglect

Brussels is sending Finland to court for its neglect of the flying squirrel, it emerged on Friday.

Helsinki has been ignoring EU habitat laws which would protect the rare rodent, and the European Commission has decided to refer it to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for this oversight.

Environment commissioner Margot Wallström commented “Finland is the only place in the EU where the flying squirrel is found, so it is important that Finland reviews its procedures to ensure the conservation of this endangered species”.

Finland and Sweden have also both been sent final written warnings or 'reasoned opinions' – the second in a three part legal process that can end in the ECJ – over their failure to clean up urban sewage, leading to pollution of the Baltic and Bothnian seas.

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