Case C-196/25: Action brought on 10 March 2025 – European Commission v Ireland
Date: 2025-03-10
Institutions: Court of Justice
Subjects: degradation of the environment, drainage, environmental impact, environmental law, infringement of EU law, national implementing measure, peat, protected area, protection of animal life, protection of plant life








C_202502369EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
C series













C/2025/2369


28.4.2025






Action brought on 10 March 2025 – European Commission v Ireland


(Case C-196/25)

(C/2025/2369)
Language of the case: English

Parties


Applicant: European Commission (represented by: N. Ruiz García and B. Cullen, acting as Agents)

Defendant: Ireland

The applicant claims that the Court should:







—


Declare that Ireland has failed to fulfil its obligations under Articles 6(2), 6(3), and 6(4) of Council Directive 92/43/EEC (1) with regard to peat extraction in special areas of conservation designated for the protection of raised bog and blanket bog habitats by:






—


failing to comply with Article 6(2) of Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora by failing to take appropriate steps to avoid the deterioration of protect raised bog and degraded raised bog habitats as a result of activities related to still ongoing peat cutting as last noted in the 2023 cutting season within the sites: Cloonmoylan Bog (Site Code IE0000248); Lough Lurgeen Bog/Glenamaddy Turlough (Site Code IE0000301); Lough Ree (Site Code IE0000440); Bellanagare Bog (Site Code 0000592); Callow Bog (Site Code IE0000595); Cloonchambers Bog (Site Code IE0000600); Corliskea/Trien/Cloonfelliv Bog (Site Code IE0002110); River Moy (Site Code IE0002298); Mouds Bog (Site Code 0002331); Coolrain Bog (Site Code 0002332); Clooneen Bog (Site Code IE0002348); Corbo Bog (Site Code IE0002349); Monivea Bog (Site Code IE0002352); and Ardgraigue Bog (Site Code E0002356);










—


failing to comply with Article 6(2) of Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora by failing to take appropriate steps to avoid the deterioration of protect raised bog and degraded raised bog habitats as a result of activities related to peat cutting between 2012 and 2016 within the sites Lough Corrib (Site Code IE0000297); Camberry Bog (Site Code IE0002347); Curraghlehanagh Bog (Site Code IE0002350) and Moanveanlagh Bog (Site Code IE0002351); activities related to peat cutting between 2012 and 2017 within the site Carrownagappul Bog (Site Code IE0001242); activities related to peat cutting between 2012 and 2018 within the sites Kilsallagh Bog (Site Code IE0000285) and Crosswood Bog (Site Code IE0002337); activities related to peat cutting between 2012 and 2019 in the site Moneybeg and Clareisland Bogs (Site Code IE0002340); activities related to peat cutting up to and including 2021 in the site Lisnageeragh Bog and Ballinastack Turlough (Site Code IE0000296) and activities related to peat cutting up to and including 2022 in the sites Barroughter Bog (Site Code IE0000231); Flughany Bog (Site Code IE0000497); Ballynamona Bog and Corkip Lough (Site Code IE0002339) and Redwood Bog (Site Code IE0002353);










—


failing to comply with of Article 6(2) of Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora by failing to take appropriate steps to avoid the deterioration of protect blanket bog habitats as a result of activities related to peat cutting within the sites: Caha Mountains (Site Code IE000093); Croaghanagh Bog (Site Code IE0000129); Fawnboy Bog/Lough Nacung (Site Code IE0000140); Gannivegil Bog (Site Code IE0000142); Lough Nillan Bog (Carrickatlieve) (Site Code IE0000165); Magheradrumman Bog (Site Code IE0000168); Meenaguse/Ardbane Bog (Site Code IE0000172); Meentygrannagh Bog (Site Code IE0000173); Slieve League Bog (Site Code IE0000189); Slieve Tooney/Tormore Island/Loughros Beg Bog (Site Code IE0000190); West of Ardara/Maas Road (Site Code IE0000197); Loughatorick South Bog (Site Code IE0000308); Rosroe Bog (Site Code IE0000324); Killarney National Park (Site Code IE0000365); Mount Brandon (Site Code IE0000375); Slieve Bloom Mountains (Site Code IE0000412); Carrowmore Lake Complex (Site Code IE0000476); Glenamoy Bog Complex (Site Code IE0000500); Lough Gall Bog (Site Code IE0000522); Owenduff/Nephin Complex (Site Code IE0000534); Slieve Fyagh Bog (Site Code IE0000542); Cuilcagh – Anierin Uplands (Site Code IE0000584); Lough Hoe Bog (Site Code IE0000633); Lough Nabrickkeagh Bog (Site Code IE0000634); Galtee Mountains (Site Code IE0000646); Coolvoy Bog (Site Code IE001107); Dunragh Loughs/Pettigo Plateau (Site Code IE0001125); Keeper Hill (Site Code IE001197); Arroo Mountain (Site Code IE0001403); Derryclogher (Knockboy) Bog (Site Code IE0001873); Glanmore Bog (Site Code IE0001879); Maulagowna Bog (Site Code IE0001881); Glendree Bog (Site Code IE0001912); Sonnagh Bog (Site Code IE0001913); Bellacorick Bog Complex (Site Code IE0001922); Mweelrea/Sheeffry/Erriff Complex (Site Code IE0001932); Croaghaun/Slievemore (Site Code IE0001955); Tamur Bog (Site Code IE0001992); Ox Mountains Bogs (Site Code IE0002006); Maumturk Mountains (Site Code IE0002008); The Twelve Bens/Garraun Complex (Site Code IE0002031); Boleybrack Mountain (Site Code IE0002032); Connemara Bog Complex (Site Code IE0002034); Ballyhoura Mountains (Site Code IE0002036); Cloghernagore Bog and Glenveagh National Park (Site Code IE0002047); Wicklow Mountains (Site Code IE0002122); Lough Golagh and Breesy Hill (Site Code IE0002164); Slieve Mish Mountains (Site Code IE0002185); River Finn (Site Code IE0002301) and Slieve Bernagh Bog (Site Code IE0002312);










—


failing to comply with Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, as interpreted by the Court, by not ensuring the restoration of sites by the damage caused to all existing Sites of Community Importance designated for the protection of raised bog, degraded raised bog and blanket bog habitats in the period since they were required to be proposed for designation on 10 June 1995 or, in the alternative, since the date on which Ireland formally proposed each site to the Commission for designation;










—


failing to comply with the requirements of Articles 6(3) and 6(4) of Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora by failing to control peat extraction by the deadline in the Additional Reasoned Opinion for the following raised bog and degraded raised bog Sites of Community Interest: Barroughter Bog (Site Code IE0000231); Lough Ree (Site Code IE0000440; Ballygar (Aghrane) Bog (Site Code 0002199); Derragh Bog (Site Code 0002201); River Moy (Site Code IE0002298); Tullaher Lough and Bog (IE0002343); Derrinlough (Cloonkeenleananode) Bog (Site Code IE0002197); Aughrim (Aghrane) Bog (Site Code IE0002200); Mount Jessop Bog (Site Code IE0002202); Girley (Drewstown) Bog (Site Code IE0002205); Wooddown Bog (Site Code IE0002205); Scohaboy (Sopwell) Bog (Sites Code IE0002206); Arragh More (Derrybreen) Bog (Site Code IE0002207);










—


failing to comply with the requirements of Articles 6(3) and 6(4) of Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora with regard to controlling activities related to peat cutting for domestic burning for all 55 blanket bog Sites of Community Interest: Caha Mountains (Site Code IE000093); Croaghanagh Bog (Site Code IE0000129); Fawnboy Bog/Lough Nacung (Site Code IE0000140); Gannivegil Bog (Site Code IE0000142); Lough Nillan Bog (Carrickatlieve) (Site Code IE0000165); Magheradrumman Bog (Site Code IE0000168); Meenaguse/Ardbane Bog (Site Code IE0000172); Meentygrannagh Bog (Site Code IE0000173); Slieve League (Site Code IE0000189); Slieve Tooney/Tormore Island/Loughros Beg Bog (Site Code IE0000190); West of Ardara/Maas Road (Site Code IE0000197); Loughatorick South Bog (Site Code IE0000308); Rosroe Bog (Site Code IE0000324); Killarney National Park (Site Code IE0000365); Mount Brandon (Site Code IE0000375); Slieve Bloom Mountains (Site Code IE0000412); Carlingford Mountain (Site code IE0000453); Carrowmore Lake Complex (Site Code IE0000476); Glenamoy Bog Complex (Site Code IE0000500); Lough Gall Bog (Site Code IE0000522); Owenduff/Nephin Complex (Site Code IE0000534); Slieve Fyagh Bog (Site Code IE0000542); Cuilcagh – Anierin Uplands (Site Code IE0000584); Ben Bulben, Gleniff and Glenade Complex (Site Code IE0000623); Lough Hoe Bog (Site Code IE0000633); Lough Nabrickkeagh Bog (Site Code IE0000634); Galtee Mountains (Site Code IE0000646); Coolvoy Bog (Site Code IE001107); Dunragh Loughs/Pettigo Plateau (Site Code IE0001125); Keeper Hill (Site Code IE001197); Arroo Mountain (Site Code IE0001403); Derryclogher (Knockboy) Bog (Site Code IE0001873); Glanmore Bog (Site Code IE0001879); Maulagowna Bog (Site Code IE0001881); Mullaghanish Bog (Site Code IE0001890); Glendree Bog (Site Code IE0001912); Sonnagh Bog (Site Code IE0001913); Bellacorick Bog Complex (Site Code IE0001922); Mweelrea/Sheeffry/Erriff Complex (Site Code IE0001932); Comeragh Mountains (Site Code IE0001952); Croaghaun/Slievemore (Site Code IE0001955); Tamur Bog (Site Code IE0001992); Ox Mountains Bogs (Site Code IE0002006); Maumturk Mountains (Site Code IE0002008); The Twelve Bens/Garraun Complex (Site Code IE0002031); Boleybrack Mountain (Site Code IE0002032); Connemara Bog Complex (Site Code IE0002034); Ballyhoura Mountains (Site Code IE0002036); Cloghernagore Bog and Glenveagh National Park (Site Code IE0002047); Wicklow Mountains (Site Code IE0002122); Polllangoona Bog (Site Code IE0002126); Lough Golagh and Breesy Hill (Site Code IE0002164); Slieve Mish Mountains (Site Code IE0002185); River Finn (Site Code IE0002301) and Slieve Bernagh Bog (Site Code IE0002312); and










—


failing to put in place a control regime compliant with Articles 6(3) and 6(4) of Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora to control peat extraction activities including cutting for non-domestic use purposes by the deadline in the Additional Reasoned Opinion for the following blanket bog sites: Magheradrumman Bog (Site Code IE0000168); West Ardara/Maas Road (Site Code IE0000197); Killarney National Park (Site Code IE0000365); Mount Brandon (Site Code IE0000375); Glenamoy Bog Complex (Site Code IE0000500); Owenduff/Nephin Complex (Site Code IE0000534); Bellacorick Bog Complex (Site Code IE0001922); Mweelrea/Sheeffry/Erriff Complex (Site Code IE0001932); Comeragh Mountains (Site Code IE0001952); The Twelve Bens/Garraun Complex (Site Code IE0002031); Connemara Bog Complex (Site Code IE0002034); Cloghernagore Bog and Glenveagh National Park (Site Code IE0002047); Wicklow Mountains (Site Code IE0002122) and River Finn (Site Code IE0002301).














—


Order Ireland to pay the costs.





Pleas in law and main arguments

The breaches under the Directive 92/43/EEC are twofold.
First, in breach of Article 6(2) of the Directive, Ireland has failed to halt the deterioration of active raised bogs, degraded raised bogs, and blanket bogs; has failed to implement preventative measures to prevent such deterioration; and has failed to implement restorative measures to address the damage caused to the affected bogs.
Article 6(2) of the Directive provides that Member States shall take appropriate steps to avoid, in Special Areas of Conservation (‘SACs’), the deterioration of natural habitats and the habitats of species as well as disturbance of the species for which the areas have been designated, in so far as such disturbance could be significant in relation to the objectives of this Directive. Article6 (2) of the Directive requires Member States to take preventative measures to avoid deterioration and significant disturbance of SACs. It also includes an obligation to restore where deterioration or significant disturbance have occurred.
Ireland has failed to protect and/or restore its bogs from harmful activities. Despite the Directive entering into force over 30 years ago, peat extraction on bogs in Ireland – through drainage and peat cutting – has occurred and continues to take place at levels that are causing unacceptable damage to both (active and degraded) raised bogs and blanket bogs. Ireland’s failure to halt the destruction and deterioration of its bogs breaches Article 6(2) of the Directive. The resulting damage on these protected sites from the many years that peat cutting has been allowed breaches Ireland’s obligation to restore the habitats lost or, where restoration is not possible, to provide compensation for the damage caused by peat cutting.
Whilst Ireland has undertaken restoration work on some (but not all) raised bog sites, it has taken no action on blanket bog sites. Given that Ireland was late to propose Sites of Community Interest (‘SCIs’) to be designated to protect both raised and blanket bog habitats and allowed peat extraction to continue in an uncontrolled manner, this restoration obligation applies from the date on which such sites should have been designated pursuant to Article4 (1) of the Directive (on 10 June 1995), or at least from the date on which Ireland proposed sites to the Commission for designation as SCIs pursuant to Article 4(5) of the Directive.
Second, Ireland has not implemented an effective regulatory system that controls peat cutting on raised or blanket bog sites through a systematic and comprehensive consent requirement. Even where a partial consent regime has been set up, this has never been enforced. Nor has it adequately assessed the significant effects that turf cutting and associated activities such as drainage are likely to have (or had) on bogs. Ireland has therefore failed to fulfil its obligations under Articles 6(3) and 6(4) of the Directive.


(1)  Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (OJ 1992 L 206, p. 7).


ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2025/2369/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)