# C_2010113EN.01000702.xml

| 1.5.2010 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 113/7 |
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Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 4 March 2010 — European Commission v French Republic

(Case C-241/08)( 1 )

(Failure of a Member State to fulfil obligations - Directive 92/43/EEC - Article 6(2) and (3) - Incorrect transposition - Special areas of conservation - Significant effect of a project on the environment - ‘Non-disturbing’ nature of certain activities - Assessment of the effects on the environment)

2010/C 113/10

Language of the case: French

Parties

Applicant: European Commission (represented by D. Recchia and J.-B. Laignelot, Agents)

Defendant: French Republic (represented by G. de Bergues and A.-L. During, Agents)

Re:

Failure of a Member State to fulfil its obligations — Incorrect transposition of Articles 6(2) and 6(3) of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (OJ 1992 L 206, p. 7)

Operative part of the judgment

The Court:

| 1. | Declares that,
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first, by providing generally that fishing, aquaculture, hunting and other hunting-related activities practised under the conditions and in the areas authorised by the laws and regulations in force do not constitute activities causing disturbance or having such an effect, and —
second, by systematically exempting works and developments provided for in Natura 2000 contracts from the procedure of assessment of their implications for the site, and —
by systematically exempting works and development programmes and projects which are subject to a declaratory system from that procedure, the French Republic has failed to fulfil its obligations under Article 6(2) and Article 6(3) respectively of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora; | — | first, by providing generally that fishing, aquaculture, hunting and other hunting-related activities practised under the conditions and in the areas authorised by the laws and regulations in force do not constitute activities causing disturbance or having such an effect, and | — | second, by systematically exempting works and developments provided for in Natura 2000 contracts from the procedure of assessment of their implications for the site, and | — | by systematically exempting works and development programmes and projects which are subject to a declaratory system from that procedure, |
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| — | first, by providing generally that fishing, aquaculture, hunting and other hunting-related activities practised under the conditions and in the areas authorised by the laws and regulations in force do not constitute activities causing disturbance or having such an effect, and | | | | | | |
| — | second, by systematically exempting works and developments provided for in Natura 2000 contracts from the procedure of assessment of their implications for the site, and | | | | | | |
| — | by systematically exempting works and development programmes and projects which are subject to a declaratory system from that procedure, | | | | | | |

| 2. | Dismisses the action as to the remainder; |
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| 3. | Orders the French Republic to pay two thirds of the costs and the European Commission to pay the other third. |
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( 1 )  OJ C 197, 02.08.2008.

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