The European Commission had to take infringement action against 10 Member States for failing to issue new or updated permits for over 4,000 industrial installations already in operation across Europe. Denmark and Ireland have been sent first warning letters while eight others warned last May will now receive final written warnings. The permits should have been issued by 30 October 2007.
European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said: "It is unacceptable that industrial installations are operating without legal permits that ensure they minimise polluting emissions. These permitting procedures have been agreed by all Member States. To protect the health of our citizens and the environment they must be respected."
The infringements concern the EU directive on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC), whose aim is to prevent and control industrial emissions to air, water, and soil.
The directive required Member States by 30 October 2007 to issue new permits or review and where necessary update existing permits for all industrial installations that were in operation before 30 October 1999. For Bulgaria and Slovenia, new or updated permits had to be issued for industrial installations in operation by the date of their accession to the EU.
Data provided by Member States themselves show that 10 still have a high number of installations for which new or updated permits have not been issued. These total over 4,000 out of about 52,000 targeted industrial installations throughout the EU.
Eight of these Member States had already been sent a first warning. They will now receive a final written warning, the last step before being taken to the European Court of Justice. The Member States concerned are Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain.
Denmark and Ireland will receive first written warnings for the same reason.
