Press Release: Environment: Commission takes Greece back to Court over illegal landfills and asks for fines

The European Commission is taking Greece back to the European Court of Justice for failing to implement an earlier ruling on illegal landfills.

In 2005, the Court ruled that Greece was not taking sufficient measures to close down and rehabilitate illegal landfills, of which there were several hundred operating across the country. Eight years later, in view of insufficient progress since the ruling, the Commission referred the case back to Court and, in line with established policy, suggesting a daily penalty payment of €71193 for each day after the second Court ruling until Greece complies with the judgment and a lump sum calculated on the basis of €7786 per day for the period between the first judgment and the day of compliance or the day of the second Court ruling.

European Commission: DG Environment: Waste: Directive 2008/98/EC on waste (Waste Framework Directive) http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/framework/index.htm

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