Case C‑109/22

European Commission

v

Romania

Judgment of the Court (Sixth Chamber) of 14 December 2023

(Environment – Directive 1999/31/EC – Landfill of waste – Obligation to close landfill sites which have not been granted the required permit – Closure procedures – Judgment of the Court establishing a failure to fulfil obligations – Non-compliance – Article 260(2) TFEU – Pecuniary penalties – Penalty payments – Lump sum)

1. Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Pre-litigation procedure – Subject matter – Periods allowed to the Member State – Requirement that periods be reasonable – Criteria for assessment

   (Art. 258 TFEU)

   (see paragraphs 25-28)

2. Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Right of the Commission to bring judicial proceedings – To be exercised at its discretion

   (Art. 258 TFEU)

   (see paragraphs 29-31)

3. Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Judgment of the Court establishing the failure of a Member State to fulfil its obligations – Period for implementation – Reference date for assessing whether there has been a failure to fulfil obligations – Date of expiry of the period prescribed in the letter of formal notice

   (Art. 260(2) TFEU)

   (see paragraph 37)

4. Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Judgment of the Court establishing the failure of a Member State to fulfil its obligations – Breach of the obligation to comply with the judgment – Pecuniary penalties – Subject matter – Prevention of the repetition of similar infringements

   (Art. 260(2) TFEU)

   (see paragraph 51)

5. Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Judgment of the Court establishing the failure of a Member State to fulfil its obligations – Breach of the obligation to comply with the judgment – Pecuniary penalties – Periodic penalty payment – Imposition of a penalty payment – Condition – Failure to comply continuing up to the time of the Court’s examination of the facts

   (Art. 260(2) TFEU)

   (see paragraphs 52, 53, 55)

6. Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Judgment of the Court establishing the failure of a Member State to fulfil its obligations – Breach of the obligation to comply with the judgment – Pecuniary penalties – Periodic penalty payment – Determination of the form to be taken and of the amount – Discretion of the Court – Criteria

   (Art. 260(2) TFEU)

   (see paragraphs 56-59)

7. Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Judgment of the Court establishing the failure of a Member State to fulfil its obligations – Breach of the obligation to comply with the judgment – Pecuniary penalties – Periodic penalty payment – Calculation of the amount – Criteria – Gravity of the infringement – Failure to comply with a judgment concerning landfill of waste – Mitigating circumstances – Aggravating circumstances

   (Art. 260(2) TFEU; Council Directive 1999/31)

   (see paragraphs 60-64)

8. Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Judgment of the Court establishing the failure of a Member State to fulfil its obligations – Breach of the obligation to comply with the judgment – Pecuniary penalties – Periodic penalty payment – Calculation of the amount – Criteria – Duration of the infringement – Assessment at the date of examination of the facts by the Court

   (Art. 260(2) TFEU)

   (see paragraphs 65-68)

9. Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Judgment of the Court establishing the failure of a Member State to fulfil its obligations – Breach of the obligation to comply with the judgment – Pecuniary penalties – Periodic penalty payment – Calculation of the amount – Criteria – Payment capacity – Date of assessment

   (Art. 260(2) TFEU)

   (see paragraph 69)

10. Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Judgment of the Court establishing the failure of a Member State to fulfil its obligations – Breach of the obligation to comply with the judgment – Pecuniary penalties – Periodic penalty payment – Frequency of the penalty payment – Account taken of progress made in the implementation of measures to comply with the judgment

    (Art. 260(2) TFEU)

    (see paragraph 70)

11. Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Judgment of the Court establishing the failure of a Member State to fulfil its obligations – Breach of the obligation to comply with the judgment – Pecuniary penalties – Periodic penalty payment – Lump sum – Whether the two penalties should be cumulated – Whether permissible

    (Art. 260(2) TFEU)

    (see paragraph 77)

12. Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Judgment of the Court establishing the failure of a Member State to fulfil its obligations – Breach of the obligation to comply with the judgment – Pecuniary penalties – Imposition of a lump sum payment – Discretion of the Court – Criteria for assessment – Effective prevention of future repetition of similar infringements

    (Art. 260(2) TFEU)

    (see paragraphs 78-81)

See the text of the decision.