WRITTEN QUESTION E-1983/01 by Dorette Corbey (PSE) to the Commission. Implementation of environment legislation.
Date: 2001-07-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU control, EU environmental policy, application of EU law, complaint to the Commission, infringement of EU law

14.2.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 40 E/153

Nevertheless, in the interim and for the existing fleet, the currently required smoke opacity test is necessary
to ensure that the gross polluters are identified and rectified as a condition for free circulation.

(1) Directive 92/55/EEC, OJ L 225, 10.8.1992.
(2) Directive 1999/52/EC, OJ L 142, 5.6.1999.

(2002/C 40 E/165)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1983/01

by Dorette Corbey (PSE) to the Commission

(6 July 2001)

Subject: Implementation of environment legislation

The European Commission rightly places a strong emphasis on the importance of sound implementation
of environmental legislation. Environmental legislation is often highly technical and complicated.

Is the Environment DG sufficiently staffed closely to monitor

implementation of European
1.
environmental legislation and where necessary to take action against Member States that continue to be
in breach of it?

How often does it happen in the Environment DG that infringement proceedings against a Member

2.
State are prepared by an official who is paid by that same Member State?

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(6 September 2001)

One of the duties of the Commission, pursuant to Article 211 (ex Article 155) of the EC Treaty, is to
ensure the correct application of the provisions of the Treaty and the measures taken by the institutions
pursuant thereto. Implementation of Community environment law is therefore one of the main priorities
of the Commission.

In the Environment Directorate General, the number of new complaints concerning alleged instances of
non- compliance with Community environment legislation has increased steadily over the past few years.
162 new complaints were registered in 1996 while 534 new complaints were lodged with the
Commission in 2000.

On 25 July 2001 the total number of on-going investigations concerning instances of non-respect of
Community environment law, was 1161, representing 34 % of all Commission(cid:146)s total open cases.

Over the same period the unit responsible for monitoring implementation of Community environmental
legislation has received a significant staff reinforcement (both through internal redeployment of existing
human resources and new posts) equivalent to just under 20 %. However, this reinforcement has not kept
pace with the increasing workload and the unit remains a priority area for additional resources should they
become available as requested by the Commission in the 2002 preliminary draft budget.

the Commission makes full use of

In the preparatory phase,
the expertise made available by the
administrations of Member States in the form of seconded national experts. However, the supervision of
the implementation of the Commission(cid:146)s duties pursuant to Article 211 of the EC Treaty, and in particular,
the preparation and implementation of Commission(cid:146)s decisions in the context of
the infringement
proceedings set out in Articles 226 (ex Article 169) and 228 (ex Article 171) of the EC Treaty is managed
by the Commission(cid:146)s own staff.