European Commission issues Spain with ultimatum

 

The European Commission today demanded that Spain abides by an order to confrm to EU rules on landfill sites

Current terms of EU law states that Member Countries must ensure that landfills which had been granted a permit or were already in operation when the landfill Directive was brought into effect, ceased to operate after July 2009 unless they complied with the Directive.

The EU Commission notes that a number of landfill sites in Spain were still operating after the 2009 deadline in breach of the Directive, and a letter of formal notice was sent to the Central Government of Spain.

After considering the reply from Madrid, the E has concluded that despite some progress, a number of landfills have neither been closed or brought into line with the terms of the directive. The Commission is now sending a "reasoned opinion" - stage 2 in EU infringement proceedings - which gives Spain 2 months to take the appropriate measures to comply with the Directive.

Failure to do so would mean a referral to the EU Court of Justice.