62018CJ0250_INF
Judgment of the Court (Eighth Chamber) of 2 May 2019 —Commission v Croatia (Disposal in Biljane Donje)
(Case C‑250/18) (
1
)
(Failure of a Member State to fulfil obligations — Directive 2008/98/EC — Waste treatment — Article 5(1) — Stone aggregate which does not fall within the concept of a ‘by-product’ — Article 13 — Obligation of Member States to ensure protection of human health and of the environment — Article 15(1) — Obligation to have waste treated by the holder or other designated persons)
1.
Actions for failure to fulfil obligations — Proof of failure — Burden of proof on Commission — Presumptions — Not permissible — Production of evidence showing failure
(Art. 258 TFEU; Parliament and Council Directive 2008/98, Art. 5(1))
(see para. 33)
2.
Member States — Obligations — Supervisory tasks assigned to the Commission — Duty of the Member States — Cooperation with inquiries relating to the application of directives — Verification and information requirement
(Arts 4(3) and 17(1) TEU)
(see paras 34, 35)
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. 36)
4.
Environment — Waste — Directive 2008/98 — Definition — Substance which is discarded — Exceptions — By-products — Criteria for assessment — Proof of certain further use on expiry of the time limit set by the reasoned opinion — None — Failure to fulfil obligations
(European Parliament and Council Directive 2008/98, Arts 3(1) and 5(1))
(see paras 37-44, operative part 1)
5.
Environment — Waste — Directive 2008/98 — Obligation on Member States to ensure that waste is recovered or disposed of — Obligation to achieve a result — Discretion of the Member States regarding the measures to be taken — Limits — Continuation of a non-compatible situation over a prolonged period leading to a significant deterioration in the environment — Failure to fulfil obligations — Non-toxic, non-dangerous waste — Irrelevant
(European Parliament and Council Directive 2008/98, Art. 13(1))
(see paras 54-60, 62-64, operative part 1)
6.
Environment — Waste — Directive 2008/98 — Obligation on Member States to ensure that waste is recovered or disposed of — Adoption of binding measures ensuring the treatment of waste by its producer or holder — None — Possible adoption of provisional measures — Absence — Continuation of a non-compatible situation over a prolonged period — Failure to fulfil obligations
(European Parliament and Council Directive 2008/98, Arts 4, 13 and 15(1))
(see paras 67-71, operative part 1)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Declares that, by failing to consider that the stone aggregate deposited in Biljane Donje (Croatia) is waste, rather than a by-product, and must be treated as waste, the Republic of Croatia has failed to fulfil its obligations under Article 5(1) of Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives;
2.
By failing to take all the measures necessary to ensure that management of the waste deposited in Biljane Donje is carried out without endangering human health or harming the environment, the Republic of Croatia has failed to fulfil its obligations under Article 13 of Directive 2008/98;
3.
By failing to take the measures necessary to ensure that the holder of the waste deposited in Biljane Donje treats the waste himself or has the treatment handled by a dealer or an establishment or undertaking that carries out waste treatment operations or by a private or public waste collector, the Republic of Croatia has failed to fulfil its obligations under Article 15(1) of Directive 2008/98;
4.
Orders the Republic of Croatia to pay the costs.
(
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)	OJ C 200, 11.6.2018.