By Anne-France White - 12th October 2006
The European commission has slammed seven member states for failing to protect fragile sites and implement environmental laws.
Ireland, Spain, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia are on the firing line in a series of commission infringements published on October 13.
But Germany has been let off the hook – the commission had started legal action against it for not listing enough nature sites for the Natura 2000 network, but the case has now been closed after the German authorities added more sites.
Ireland
The commission has asked Ireland to complete its list of most endangered nature sites within the Natura-2000 network.
Ireland also has not taken enough steps to restore Irish uplands that were extensively damaged by sheep overgrazing in protected areas since the 1980s.
The commission has warned Dublin that it could face “substantial fines” if it fails to satisfy the two European court judgements.
Spain
The commission has also decided to pursue legal action against Spain over three breaches of EU laws on protecting birds and wildlife.
Two of the cases relate to the development of road projects in areas with endangered species including the Iberian lynx; Brussels also wants Spain to stop illegal hunting of migrant birds in the province of Vizcaya.
In the Iberian lynx and the hunting case, the commission is warning Madrid for the last time that Court action will be taken unless Spain shapes up.
Finland
The case launched against Finland relates to its failure to include a key nature site in its list of protected areas under the EU wild birds directive.
The commission says Finland has failed to include an important area in the Åland archipelago, known as Nyhamn-Båtskär – an area which is used as a wintering area by the Steller's Eider, a bird species which is under threat worldwide.
“It is vital that member states properly implement the EU's nature protection directives, if we are to reach our goal of halting the loss of biodiversity in Europe by 2010,” argued EU environment commissioner Stavros Dimas.
“Over 40% of Europe's native bird species are threatened with extinction. I hope that Finland will soon comply with its obligations."
But Dimas said he is heartened that Germany has now designated sufficient protection areas for Natura 2000, leading the commission to drop its legal action against Berlin.
Environmental impact assessment
The commission, finally, is sending “first written warnings” to Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia over their laws on environmental impact assessments.
Under EU rules, the environmental effects of a wide range of infrastructural, industrial and other projects must be properly examined before any works are undertaken – but the commission says the four countries’ legislation on this is faulty.
Common problems include not requiring certain categories of projects to undergo assessments, and failing to provide sufficient screening projects to see if an assessment is needed.
The commission says smaller projects in particular are not adequately addressed.
"Environmental impact assessment is an essential tool for ensuring that major projects are designed and carried out in ways that minimise damage to the environment,” said Dimas.
“However, environmental protection is weakened if it is not transposed and implemented properly. I hope the Member States concerned will need no further encouragement to bring themselves fully into line."
The four countries now have two months to submit their comments to Brussels; the case could go to the court of justice if they later fail to comply with the commission’s requests.
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