BRUSSELS TAKES SPAIN TO COURT FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH WASTE MANAGEMENT DIRECTIVE​

By Julio García / Aquí Europa

The European Commission has decided today, February 7, 2024, to take Spain to the Court of Justice of the European Union for non-compliance with the requirements of the Waste Framework Directive.

The Waste Framework Directive requires Member States to take all necessary measures to ensure that waste management does not endanger human health or harm the environment.

Member States must also ensure that waste is disposed of safely and that the original waste producers either treat the waste themselves or ensure that the treatment is carried out properly.

Spain has not taken the necessary measures to meet these requirements of the Waste Framework Directive. The persistence of at least 195 illegal landfills that have not yet been closed, sealed and restored since 2008 is causing significant damage to the environment and endangering human health.

It also demonstrates that Spain has failed in its duties of scrutiny, inspection and enforcement of waste landfills. This creates health and environmental risks, which the European Green Pact aims to address.

The Commission sent a letter of formal notice to Spain in December 2015, followed by a reasoned opinion in November 2018. Despite some progress, the Spanish authorities have not fully addressed the shortcomings. The Commission considers that the Spanish authorities’ efforts have been insufficient to date and is therefore referring Spain to the Court of Justice of the European Union.

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This news item was originally published in Aquí Europa, with whose permission we reproduce it.