Judgment — ECLI:EU:C:2001:432
Date: 2001-09-11
Language of the case: English
Court formation: Sixth Chamber
Based on: Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (1957)
Subject matter: Environment
Concepts: General;Defences
Procedure: Action for failure to fulfil obligations - successful
Origin: Ireland

Summary of the Judgment 
1. Actions for failure to fulfil obligations — Subject-matter of the dispute — Determi­
nation during the pre-litigation procedure — Initial complaints set out in greater detail 
in the application instituting proceedings — Whether permissible 
(EC Treaty, Art. 169 (now Art. 226 EC); Rules of Procedure of the Court, Arts 
38(1)(c) and 42) 
I - 5757 
SUMMARY — CASE C-67/99 
2. Actions for failure to fulfil obligations — Examination of the merits by the Court — 
Situation to be taken into account — Situation prevailing at the end of the period laid 
down in the reasoned opinion 
(EC Treaty, Art. 169 (now Art. 226 EC)) 
3. Member States — Obligations — Implementation of directives — Failure to fulfil 
obligations — Justification based on the delay by the Commission in establishing a 
format intended for the submission of certain data by Member States — Not 
permissible 
(EC Treaty, Art. 169 (now Art. 226 EC)) 
I - 5758