62024CJ0368_INF
Judgment of the Court (Eighth Chamber) of 9 October 2025 –Commission v Greece (Implementation of the judgment on the Zakynthos landfill)
(Case C‑368/24)
(Failure of a Member State to fulfil obligations – Judgment of the Court of Justice establishing a failure to fulfil obligations – Non-compliance – Article 260(2) TFEU – Environment – Directives 2008/98/EC and 1999/31/EC – Waste – Landfill on the island of Zakynthos (Greece) – Obligation to close that landfill, which has not been granted the required permit – Pecuniary penalties – Periodic penalty payments – Lump sum)
1.
Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Judgment of the Court establishing the failure of a Member State to fulfil its obligations – Period for implementation – Reference date for assessing whether there has been a failure to fulfil obligations – Date of expiry of the period prescribed in the letter of formal notice
(Art. 260(2) TFEU)
(see paragraphs 38, 39)
2.
Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Judgment of the Court establishing the failure of a Member State to fulfil its obligations – Breach of the obligation to comply with the judgment – Failure to comply with a judgment concerning the landfilling of waste
(European Parliament and Council Directive 2008/98, Arts 13 and 36(1); Council Directive 1999/31, Art. 14)
(see paragraphs 40-42)
3.
Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Judgment of the Court establishing the failure of a Member State to fulfil its obligations – Breach of the obligation to comply with the judgment – Pecuniary penalties – Periodic penalty payment – Imposition of a penalty payment – Condition – Failure to comply continuing up to the time of the Court’s examination of the facts
(Art. 260(2) TFEU)
(see paragraphs 73-77)
4.
Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Judgment of the Court establishing the failure of a Member State to fulfil its obligations – Breach of the obligation to comply with the judgment – Pecuniary penalties – Periodic penalty payment – Determination of the form to be taken and of the amount – Discretion of the Court – Criteria
(Art. 260(2) TFEU)
(see paragraphs 78-81)
5.
Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Judgment of the Court establishing the failure of a Member State to fulfil its obligations – Breach of the obligation to comply with the judgment – Pecuniary penalties – Periodic penalty payment – Calculation of the amount – Criteria – Gravity of the infringement – Failure to comply with a judgment concerning the landfilling of waste – Mitigating circumstances – Aggravating circumstances
(Art. 260(2) TFEU)
(see paragraphs 82-87, 91-96)
6.
Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Judgment of the Court establishing the failure of a Member State to fulfil its obligations – Breach of the obligation to comply with the judgment – Pecuniary penalties – Periodic penalty payment – Calculation of the amount – Criteria – Duration of the infringement – Assessment at the date of examination of the facts by the Court
(Art. 260(2) TFEU)
(see paragraphs 97-99)
7.
Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Judgment of the Court establishing the failure of a Member State to fulfil its obligations – Breach of the obligation to comply with the judgment – Pecuniary penalties – Periodic penalty payment – Calculation of the amount – Criteria – Payment capacity – Date of assessment
(Art. 260(2) TFEU)
(see paragraphs 101, 102)
8.
Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Judgment of the Court establishing the failure of a Member State to fulfil its obligations – Breach of the obligation to comply with the judgment – Pecuniary penalties – Periodic penalty payment – Lump sum – Whether the two penalties should be cumulated – Whether permissible
(Art. 260(2) TFEU)
(see paragraph 105)
9.
Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Judgment of the Court establishing the failure of a Member State to fulfil its obligations – Breach of the obligation to comply with the judgment – Pecuniary penalties – Imposition of a lump sum payment – Discretion of the Court – Criteria for assessment – Effective prevention of future repetition of similar infringements
(Art. 260(2) TFEU)
(see paragraphs 106-110)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Declares that, by failing to take all the measures necessary to comply with the judgment of 17 July 2014, Commission v Greece (C‑600/12, EU:C:2014:2086), the Hellenic Republic has failed to fulfil its obligations under Article 260(1) TFEU;
2.
Orders the Hellenic Republic to pay the European Commission a penalty payment of EUR 12500 per day from the date of the present judgment to the date of compliance with the judgment of 17 July 2014, Commission v Greece (C‑600/12, EU:C:2014:2086);
3.
Orders the Hellenic Republic to pay the European Commission a lump sum of EUR 5500000;
4.
Orders the Hellenic Republic to pay the costs.