Commission decides to refer Bulgaria, Finland and Greece to the CJEU due to failure to implement European integrated maritime policy

Further information:

The Commission calls on the CJEU to impose a daily penalty payment of €14,089.6 per day for Bulgaria, €7,739.76 per day for Finland and €31,416 per day for Greece from the day of the judgement until this Directive is fully enacted and in force in national law.

Background information:

Maritime spatial planning works across borders and sectors to ensure human activities at sea take place in an efficient, safe and sustainable way. Maritime Spatial Planning directly supports and facilitates the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Among its main objectives are high levels of employment and productivity, and social cohesion and inclusion.

The infringement proceeding were opened against Bulgaria, Finland and Greece in November 2016 and reasoned opinions were sent in these proceedings in July 2017.

Bulgaria and Greece did not notified the Commission on the adoption of the measures necessary to transpose the Directive. Finland notified the Commission on the adoption of the measures necessary to transpose the Directive but these measures apply only to mainland Finland and not to the Province of Åland, which is also covered by the scope of the Directive.

Member States had to transpose the Directive into national law by 18 September 2016.The European Commission decided on 7 December 2017 to refer Bulgaria, Finland and Greece to the Court of Justice of the EU for not notifying or partially notifying its measures transposing EU rules establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning (Directive 2014/89/EU).