62023CJ0318_INF
Judgment of the Court (Eighth Chamber) of 8 May 2025 –Commission v Slovenia (Bukovžlak landfill)
(Case C‑318/23)
(Failure of a Member State to fulfil obligations – Environment – Directive 1999/31/EC – Landfilling of waste – Directive 2008/98/EC – Waste management – Judgment of the Court of Justice establishing a failure to fulfil obligations – Partial non-compliance – Article 260(2) TFEU – Pecuniary penalties – 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 – Compliance having to be initiated at once and completed as soon as possible – Delay in compliance with a judgment concerning the landfilling of waste – Justification – None
(Art. 260(1) TFEU; European Parliament and Council Directive 2008/98; Council Directive 1999/31)
(see paragraphs 35, 38-43, 79)
2.
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 36, 37)
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 – Purpose – Prevention of the repetition of similar infringements
(Art. 260(2) TFEU)
(see paragraphs 62, 63)
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 – Imposition of a lump sum payment – Discretion of the Court – Criteria for assessment
(Art. 260(2) TFEU)
(see paragraphs 64-67, 83)
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 – Lump sum – Calculation of the amount – Criteria – Gravity of the infringement – Prolonged failure to comply with the judgment of the Court – Fundamental nature of the provisions which are the subject of the failure to fulfil obligations that was established – Failure to comply with a judgment concerning the landfilling of waste – Mitigating circumstances
(Art. 260(2) TFEU)
(see paragraphs 68-76, 83)
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– Lump sum – 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 77, 78, 80, 83)
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 – Lump sum – Calculation of the amount – Criteria – Payment capacity – Date of assessment
(Art. 260(2) TFEU)
(see paragraphs 81-83)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Declares that, by failing to take the measures necessary to comply with the judgment of 16 July 2015, Commission v Slovenia (C‑140/14, EU:C:2015:501), as regards plot no 115/1 in the municipal land register of Teharje (Bukovžlak), the Republic of Slovenia has failed to fulfil its obligations under Article 260(1) TFEU;
2.
Orders the Republic of Slovenia to pay to the European Commission a lump sum in the amount of EUR 1200000;
3.
Orders the Republic of Slovenia to pay, in addition to its own costs, those incurred by the European Commission.