EUROPEAN COMMISSION - PRESS RELEASE
Environment: Commission urges Greece to comply
with Court ruling over missing industrial permits
Brussels, 16 June - The Commission is asking Greece to comply with a 2010 EU
Court of Justice ruling on industrial installations that are operating with expired
permits. Although Greece is taking action to remedy the situation, the Commission
is concerned with the slow pace of progress. At least 21 industrial installations are
still operating with permits that have not yet been reconsidered or updated. Under
EU law, this should have been done by 30 October 2007.
On the recommendation of Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik, the
Commission has decided to send a letter of formal notice, giving Greece two
months to comply. If Greece continues not to fulfil its legal obligations, the
Commission may refer the case back to Court and ask for financial sanctions to be
imposed.
Under EU law, industrial and agricultural activities with a high pollution potential
must be licensed. The Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive
requires Member States by 30 October 2007 to issue new permits or revise existing
permits for all industrial installations that were in operation before 30 October 1999.
Permits are only issued if a number of environmental criteria are met.
On 2 December 2010 the EU Court of Justice ruled that Greece had not issued or
reviewed the necessary permits to comply with requirements of the Directive.
Although the number of non-compliant installations is being reduced, at least 21
installations still lack the permits required. The Commission is not satisfied with the
pace of the permitting process and is therefore sending a letter of formal notice
urging Greece to comply with the Court ruling.
Installations must have the correct permits to ensure they meet the strict
requirements necessary to ensure the highest protection to human health and the
environment. Large industrial and agricultural installations account for a
considerable proportion of total emissions of key atmospheric pollutants, and have
major environmental impacts. Air pollution can have numerous consequences
including respiratory problems, premature death and damage to ecosystems.
More follows
IP/11/727
Background
The Integrated Pollution and Prevention Control (IPPC) Directive protects citizens
by providing an EU-wide standard for licensing industrial and agri-industrial
activities with a high pollution potential. Permits can only be issued if certain
environmental conditions are met, with companies themselves bearing
responsibility for preventing and reducing any pollution they may cause. The
permitting process ensures that the most appropriate pollution-prevention measures
are used, and that waste is recycled or disposed of in the least polluting way
possible.
The Commission has previously taken 9 Member States to Court for infringements
of the IPPC Directive (see IP/10/1579, IP/09/1649, IP/10/1412 and IP/11/305).
For current statistics on infringements in general, see:
http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/infringements/infringements_en.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/legal/implementation_en.htm
For more information on the IPPC Directive and its implementation:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/pollutants/stationary/ippc/index.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ippc/ippc_indic_permits.htm
See also MEMO/11/408
Contacts :
Joe Hennon (+32 2 295 35 93)
Monica Westeren (+32 2 295 06 68)
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