Case C‑444/21

European Commission

v

Ireland

Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 29 June 2023

(Failure of a Member State to fulfil obligations – Environment – Directive 92/43/EEC – Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora – Special areas of conservation – Atlantic biogeographical region – Article 4(4) and Article 6(1) – Failure to designate special areas of conservation and to set conservation objectives – Absence or insufficiency of conservation measures)

1. Environment – Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora – Directive 92/43 – Sites of Community importance – Establishment by the Commission of the national list of sites concerned – Designation by the Member States as special areas of conservation – None – Failure to fulfil obligations

   (Council Directive 92/43, as amended by Directive 2013/17, Art. 4(4))

   (see paragraphs 44-46, 51, 52, 56, operative part 1)

2. Environment – Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora – Directive 92/43 – Special areas of conservation – Obligations of the Member States – Setting of conservation objectives – None – Failure to fulfil obligations

   (Council Directive 92/43, as amended by Directive 2013/17, Art. 4(4))

   (see paragraphs 64-69, operative part 2)

3. Environment – Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora – Directive 92/43 – Special areas of conservation – Obligations of the Member States – Adoption of necessary conservation measures – Actual implementation of the conservation measures – None – Failure to fulfil obligations

   (Council Directive 92/43, as amended by Directive 2013/17, Art. 6(1) and Annexes I and II)

   (see paragraphs 136-140, 147-154, 176, operative part 3)

4. Member States – Obligations – Supervisory tasks assigned to the Commission – Duty of the Member States – Cooperation with inquiries relating to the application of directives – Obligation to perform checks and to provide information

   (Art. 4(3) and 17(1) TEU; Council Directive 92/43, as amended by Directive 2013/17)

   (see paragraph 142)

5. Environment – Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora – Directive 92/43 – Special areas of conservation – Obligations of the Member States – Setting of conservation objectives – Setting after the adoption of the conservation measures – Whether permissible – Condition

   (Council Directive 92/43, as amended by Directive 2013/17, Art. 6(1) and Annexes I and II)

   (see paragraphs 155- 162)

See the text of the operative part of the decision.