27 September
EU avoids enforcing fines despite numerous environmental violations by member states
The European Commission has failed to impose penalties on countries for more than 40 court-ruled breaches of EU law, most concerning environmental protections, leaving violations unresolved for decades.
Pascal Hansens, Harald Schumann and Maxence Pegné Investigate Europe.
In short:
- More than 40 cases involving EU law breaches, mainly on climate and biodiversity, remain unresolved due to the European Commission’s inaction.
- Ireland’s case of failing to protect endangered birds like the hen harrier has persisted for over 17 years, despite a European Court of Justice ruling.
- Some nations, including Italy and Greece, have paid fines for breaches but still fail to address underlying issues.
Key quote:
“The Commission should ensure all adopted EU laws are fully enforced in all member states, but it is not doing so.”
— Daniel Freund, Green MEP
Why this matters:
Failure to enforce EU environmental laws threatens biodiversity and increases health costs, as seen in cases like air pollution, which causes thousands of deaths annually. Without penalties, member states are less likely to comply with crucial environmental protections.
Related:
