91999E1839

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1839/99

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

(13 October 1999)

Subject: Shortcomings in Spain's waste management

Three months have now passed since the European Commission decided to take Spain to the European Court of Justice for failure to comply with the Community directives relating to waste management. In a communication issued in July, the Commission stated that the case was being brought because, on the one hand, they had not officially received the national plan for municipal waste management and, on the other hand, there were serious deficiencies in the plan regarding dangerous waste products that was drawn up by the relevant Spanish authority. According to the Commission communication, the plan was highly imprecise with regard to facilities for waste disposal and to the specific provisions covering certain types of waste.

Could the Commission provide a progress report on the aforementioned case at the European Court of Justice?

Could the Commission state whether or not it intends to implement measures running parallel to the court proceedings in order to press the Spanish authorities into prompt compliance with the Community directives, especially bearing in mind the serious environmental consequences that can result from non-compliance with directives covering the management of dangerous waste products?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(8 December 1999)

The Commission is currently drawing up the draft application it will be lodging with the Court of Justice under the infringement proceedings the Honourable Member is referring to.

Other than the abovementioned judicial procedure the Commission has no means in law of intervening usefully with the Spanish authorities.