The European Fee has determined to sue Slovakia in EU Court docket for failing to respect the EU directive on landfills with regard to a complete of 21 decommissioned websites.
Below the EU directive on landfills, member states had been supposed to shut previous landfills by 16 July 2009, although Slovakia had obtained exceptions.
In April 2017, the European Fee despatched a proper name to Bratislava to adjust to the directive, which was adopted by a reasoned opinion in March 2019.
Slovakia has since closed 14 non-compliant landfills, however some had been restored and re-authorised.
Slovakia additionally tried to improve its laws, permitting for the slapping of as much as €7 million in fines on landfill operators who don’t adjust to the principles; and the development of latest landfills was stopped. Landfill charges have additionally elevated since.
But, in response to the Fee, as much as 21 Slovak landfills are nonetheless required to take sure measures. Though these are decommissioned, they haven’t been recultivated and definitively closed, because the EU Directive requires.
The landfills proceed to pose a hazard to the encircling surroundings and human well being.
(Lucia Yar | EURACTIV.sk)
