62019CJ0849_INF
Judgment of the Court (Sixth Chamber) of 17 December 2020 – Commission v Greece
(Case C‑849/19) (
1
)
(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 – Article 4(4) – Obligation to establish conservation objectives – Article 6(1) – Obligation to take conservation measures – Decision 2006/613/EC – Mediterranean biogeographical region)
1.
EU law – Interpretation – Methods – Literal, systematic and teleological interpretation
(see para. 45)
2.
Environment – Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora – Directive 92/43 – Special areas of conservation – Obligations of the Member States – Scope – Setting of conservation objectives – Absence – Failure to fulfil obligations
(Council Directive 92/43, Recitals 8 and 10, Arts 4(2) and (4), 6(1) and (3) and Annex I and II; Commission Decision 2006/613)
(see paras 46-54, 57, 58, 61)
3.
Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Examination of the merits by the Court – Situation to be taken into consideration – Situation on expiry of the period laid down in the reasoned opinion
(Art. 258 TFEU)
(see para. 56)
4.
Member States – Obligations – Implementation of directives – Failure to fulfil obligations – National system pleaded as justification – Not permissible
(Art. 258 TFEU)
(see para. 60)
5.
Environment – Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora – Directive 92/43 – Special areas of conservation – Obligations of the Member States – Scope – Actual implementation of the conservation measures – Absence – Failure to fulfil obligations
(Council Directive 92/43, Recitals 4, 8 and 11, Arts 1(l), 2(2), 4(4) and 6(1); Commission Decision 2006/613)
(see paras 74-82, 86, 88, 89)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Declares that, by not adopting within the prescribed periods all the necessary measures for establishing appropriate conservation objectives and appropriate conservation measures in relation to the 239 Sites of Community Importance which are on Greek territory and are included in Commission Decision 2006/613/EC of 19 July 2006 adopting, pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC, the list of sites of Community importance for the Mediterranean biogeographical region, the Hellenic Republic has failed to fulfil its obligations under Articles 4(4) and 6(1) of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, as amended by Council Directive 2006/105/EC of 20 November 2006;
2.
Orders the Hellenic Republic to pay the costs.
(
1
)	OJ C 19, 20.1.2020.