Brussels Pushes Member States To Comply With EU Law

摘要

The European Commission is continuing its campaign to up member state compliance with EU environmental law through a flurry of infringement cases. Some member states received first warning letters, others a 'reasoned opinion' - the second and final warning before being referred to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. The Commission has referred yet others to Luxembourg. The latest cases are: Germany - the Commission has sent Germany a first written warning for failing, in connection with an extension to Frankfurt Airport, to implement correctly an EU law aimed at avoiding major industrial accidents. The Hessian state government wants to build a new northwest runway at Frankfurt Airport, despite the close proximity of this to the Ticona chemical plant and despite a negative opinion from the German Accident Commission ("Stoerfallkommission"). The Commission argues that the land-use planning rules of the EU's Seveso Ⅱ Directive have not been respected.