Press Release: Italy: Commission pursues legal action over continuing violations of environmental laws

The European Commission on 3 July 2006 decided to pursue legal action against Italy over four breaches of EU laws to protect human health and the environment. Three of the cases concerned inadequate management of the risks posed by waste. In the fourth case, Italian authorities had failed to consider whether environmental impact assessments were needed for two new sections of road in Milan. In two of the cases the Commission was taking Italy to the European Court of Justice while in the other two it was sending final written warnings that Court action would be taken unless the infringements were rectified in the near future.