# C_2004300EN.01002002.xml

| 4.12.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 300/20 |
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JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

(Second Chamber)

of 7 October 2004

in Case C-239/03: Commission of the European Communities v French Republic( 1 )

(Failure of a Member State to fulfil obligations - Convention for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea against pollution - Articles 4(1) and (8) - Protocol for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea against pollution from land-based sources - Article 6(1) and (3) - Failure to adopt appropriate measures to prevent, abate and combat heavy and prolonged pollution of the Étang de Berre - Discharge authorisation)

(2004/C 300/41)

Language of the case: French

In Case C-239/03: action under Article 226 EC for failure to fulfil obligations, brought on 4 June 2003, between Commission of the European Communities (Agents: G. Valero Jordana and B. Stromsky) and French Republic (Agents: G. de Bergues and E. Puisais) — the Court (Second Chamber), composed of: C.W.A. Timmermans, President of the Chamber, R. Schintgen (Rapporteur), R. Silva de Lapuerta, P. Kūris and G. Arestis, Judges; D. Ruiz-Jarabo Colomer, Advocate General; R. Grass, Registrar, has given a judgment on 7 October 2004, in which it:

| 1. | Declares that:
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by failing to take all appropriate measures to prevent, abate and combat heavy and prolonged pollution of the Étang de Berre, and —
by failing to take due account of the requirements of Annex III to the Protocol for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea against pollution from land-based sources, signed at Athens on 17 May 1980 and approved on behalf of the European Economic Community by Council Decision 83/101/EEC of 28 February 1983, by amending the authorisation for the discharge of substances covered by Annex II to the Protocol following the conclusion of the latter,
the French Republic has failed to fulfil its obligations under Articles 4(1) and 8 of the Convention for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea against pollution, signed at Barcelona on 16 February 1976 and approved on behalf of the European Economic Community by Council Decision 77/585/EEC of 25 July 1977, under Article 6(1) and (3) of the Protocol for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea against pollution from land-based sources, signed at Athens on 17 May 1980 and approved on behalf of the European Economic Community by Council Decision 83/101/EEC of 28 February 1983, and under Article 300(7) EC; | — | by failing to take all appropriate measures to prevent, abate and combat heavy and prolonged pollution of the Étang de Berre, and | — | by failing to take due account of the requirements of Annex III to the Protocol for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea against pollution from land-based sources, signed at Athens on 17 May 1980 and approved on behalf of the European Economic Community by Council Decision 83/101/EEC of 28 February 1983, by amending the authorisation for the discharge of substances covered by Annex II to the Protocol following the conclusion of the latter,
the French Republic has failed to fulfil its obligations under Articles 4(1) and 8 of the Convention for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea against pollution, signed at Barcelona on 16 February 1976 and approved on behalf of the European Economic Community by Council Decision 77/585/EEC of 25 July 1977, under Article 6(1) and (3) of the Protocol for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea against pollution from land-based sources, signed at Athens on 17 May 1980 and approved on behalf of the European Economic Community by Council Decision 83/101/EEC of 28 February 1983, and under Article 300(7) EC; |
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| — | by failing to take all appropriate measures to prevent, abate and combat heavy and prolonged pollution of the Étang de Berre, and | | | | |
| — | by failing to take due account of the requirements of Annex III to the Protocol for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea against pollution from land-based sources, signed at Athens on 17 May 1980 and approved on behalf of the European Economic Community by Council Decision 83/101/EEC of 28 February 1983, by amending the authorisation for the discharge of substances covered by Annex II to the Protocol following the conclusion of the latter,
the French Republic has failed to fulfil its obligations under Articles 4(1) and 8 of the Convention for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea against pollution, signed at Barcelona on 16 February 1976 and approved on behalf of the European Economic Community by Council Decision 77/585/EEC of 25 July 1977, under Article 6(1) and (3) of the Protocol for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea against pollution from land-based sources, signed at Athens on 17 May 1980 and approved on behalf of the European Economic Community by Council Decision 83/101/EEC of 28 February 1983, and under Article 300(7) EC; | | | | |

| 2. | Orders the French Republic to pay the costs. |
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( 1 )  OJ C 184 of 2.8.2003.

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