CELEX: 61999CC0392
Language: en
Date: 2002-03-07
Title: Opinion of Advocate General Stix-Hackl delivered on 7 March 2002. # Commission of the European Communities v Portuguese Republic. # Failure of a Member State to fulfil its obligations - Directive 75/439/EEC - Disposal of waste oils - Incomplete transposition. # Case C-392/99.

OPINION OF ADVOCATE GENERALSTIX-HACKL delivered on 7 March 2002  (1)
         Case C-392/99 Commission of the European CommunitiesvPortuguese Republic
            ((Failure to fulfil obligations – Directive 75/439/EEC – Disposal of waste oils))
            
      
         
        I ─ Introduction
      
      1.  In the present proceedings the Commission seeks a declaration that the Portuguese Republic has failed to fulfil its obligations
      under Articles 6(2), 8(2)(a), 13 and 17 of Council Directive 75/439/EEC of 16 June 1975 on the disposal of waste oils, as
      amended by Council Directive 87/101/EEC of 22 December 1986,  
      
         			(2)
         		 the first paragraph of Article 10 EC and the third paragraph of Article 249 EC.
      
      2.  The Commission's claims relate to the permit procedure applicable to certain undertakings which dispose of waste oils, the
      conditions governing the disposal of residues from the combustion of waste oils, the inspection procedure for undertakings
      which dispose of waste oils and the duty to convey information to the Commission.
       II ─ Legal Framework
      
      
      
      A ─
       Community Law
       Directive 75/439
      
      3.  Directive 75/439 governs the disposal of waste oils, its aim being to protect the environment from the harmful effects of
      discharging, depositing and treating waste oils.  
      
         			(3)
         		  In order to achieve this aim Member States were obliged, under the original version of Articles 2 to 4 of that directive,
      to take the necessary measures to ensure the safe collection and disposal of waste oils and to ensure that, as far as possible,
      their disposal was carried out by recycling.
      
      4.  Directive 75/439 was amended by Directive 87/101, the principal aim of which was to give priority to the processing of waste
      oils by regeneration in view of the energy savings which can be achieved.
      
      5.  Articles 1 to 6 of the original text of Directive 75/439 were entirely replaced by new provisions inserted by Directive 87/101.
      
      6.   Article 6  of Directive 75/439, as amended by Directive 87/101, now reads as follows: 
      1.  In order to comply with the measures taken pursuant to Article 4, any undertaking which disposes of waste oils must obtain
      a permit.  Where necessary, this permit shall be granted after examination of the installations.
      
      2.  Without prejudice to the requirements laid down by national and Community provisions with a purpose other than that of this
      Directive, a permit may be granted to undertakings which regenerate waste oils or use waste oils as fuel only where the competent
      authority has satisfied itself that all appropriate environmental and health protection measures have been taken, including
      use of the best technology available, where the cost is not excessive.
      
      
      7.   Article 8(2)  of Directive 75/439, as amended by Directive 87/101, provides:  The Member States shall further ensure that:
      (a) the residues from the combustion of waste oils are disposed of in accordance with Article 9 of Directive 78/319/EEC; ...
      .
      
      8.   Article 13  of Directive 75/439, as amended by Directive 87/101, provides:  
      1.  The undertakings referred to in Article 6 shall be inspected periodically by the Member States, particularly as regards their
      compliance with the conditions of their permits.
      
      2.  The competent authorities shall examine trends in the state of technical development and/or of the environment with a view
      to revising, where necessary, permits granted to undertakings in accordance with this Directive.
      
      
      9.   Article 17  of Directive 75/439, as amended by Directive 87/101, reads as follows: Each Member State shall periodically convey to the Commission information concerning its technical expertise and the experience
      gained and results obtained through the application of measures taken pursuant to this Directive....
       Directives connected with Article 8(2) of Directive 75/439, as amended by Directive 87/101
      
      10.  Article 8(2) of Directive 75/439, as amended by Directive 87/101, makes reference to Article 9 of Council Directive 78/319/EEC
      of 20 March 1978 on toxic and dangerous waste.  
      
         			(4)
         		
      11.  Council Directive 91/689/EEC of 12 December 1991 on hazardous waste  
      
         			(5)
         		 repealed and replaced Directive 78/319 with effect from 27 June 1995.  
      
         			(6)
         		
      12.   Article 9 of Directive 78/319  provided as follows: 
      1.  Installations, establishments or undertakings which carry out the storage, treatment and/or deposit of toxic and dangerous
      waste must obtain a permit from the competent authorities.  Such waste may be stored, treated and/or deposited only by installations,
      establishments or undertakings holding such permits.  Undertakings engaged in the carriage of toxic and dangerous waste shall
      be controlled by the competent authorities of the Member States.
      
      2.  The permit referred to in paragraph 1 shall cover in particular: 
      
      
      ─
      the type and quantity of waste;  
      
      
      
      ─
      the technical requirements;  
      
      
      
      ─
      the precautions to be taken;  
      
      
      
      ─
      the disposal site(s);  
      
      
      
      ─
      the methods of disposal.  
      This permit may also lay down the specific information to be made available at the request of the competent authorities.
      
      3.  Permits may include conditions and obligations.  They may be granted for a specified period and may be renewed.
      
      
      13.   Article 1(2) of Directive 91/689  provides as follows:Subject to this Directive, Directive 75/442/EEC shall apply to hazardous waste.
      
      14.  Directive 75/442/EEC is the Council Directive of 15 July 1975 on waste.  
      
         			(7)
         		  It was amended by Council Directive 91/156/EEC of 18 March 1991.  
      
         			(8)
         		
      15.   Article 9 of Directive 75/442, as amended by Directive 91/156 , reads as follows: 
      1.  For the purposes of implementing Articles 4, 5 and 7, any establishment or undertaking which carries out the operations specified
      in Annex II A must obtain a permit from the competent authority referred to in Article 6.Such permit shall cover:
      
      
      ─
      the types and quantities of waste,  
      
      
      
      ─
      the technical requirements,  
      
      
      
      ─
      the security precautions to be taken,  
      
      
      
      ─
      the disposal site,  
      
      
      
      ─
      the treatment method.  
      
      
      2.  Permits may be granted for a specified period, they may be renewable, they may be subject to conditions and obligations, or,
      notably, if the intended method of disposal is unacceptable from the point of view of environmental protection, they may be
      refused.
      
      
      
      B ─
         National Law
         
         
         9
            
         The provisions of national law are set out below with a reference to their content.
      
      
      
      16.   Provisions relating to waste oils: 
      
      
      ─
         Decreto-Lei No 88/91 of 23 February 1991 (hereinafter  
         Decree-Law No 88/91), by which, pursuant to Article 1, Directive 87/101 is transposed into domestic law; 
      
      
      
      ─
         Regulamento (Regulation) on the grant of permits for the collection, storage, pretreatment, regeneration, reclamation, combustion and
         incineration of waste oils (hereinafter  
         the Waste Oils Regulation Annexed to Implementing Order No 240/92), approved by ─ and annexed to ─  
         Portaria No 240/92 of 25 March 1992 (hereinafter  
         Implementing Order No 240/92) regulating permits for operations in connection with waste oils, as provided in Article 8 of Decree-Law No 88/91. 
      
      
      
      17.   Provisions of industrial law: 
      
      
      ─
         Decreto-Lei No 109/91 of 15 March 1991 on the pursuit of industrial activity, as amended by  
         Decreto-Lei No 282/93 of 17 August 1993 (hereinafter  
         Decree-Law No 109/91); 
      
      
      
      ─
         Portaria No 314/94 of 24 May 1994 (hereinafter  
         Implementing Order No 314/94) on the content of applications for the establishment of industrial plants. 
      
      
      
      18.   Provisions on waste: 
      
      
      ─
         Decreto-Lei No 239/97 of 9 September 1997 (hereinafter  
         Decree-Law No 239/97) on the carriage, storage, treatment, recovery and disposal of waste; 
      
      
      
      ─
         Portaria No 961/98 of 10 November 1998 (hereinafter  
         Implementing Order No 961/98) laying down the conditions for permits authorising the storage, treatment, recovery and disposal of waste, pursuant to Articles
         9 and 10 of Decree-Law No 239/97. 
      
      
      
      19.   Law on organisation in the environmental field: 
      
      
      ─
         Decreto-Lei No 189/93 of 24 May 1993 (hereinafter  
         Decree-Law No 189/93) on the establishment of the Directorate-General for the Environment; 
      
      
      
      ─
         Decreto-Lei No 549/99 of 14 December 1999 (hereinafter  
         Decree-Law No 549/99) on the organisation of the Inspectorate-General for the Environment; 
      
      
      
      ─
         Decreto-Lei No 236/97 of 3 September 1997 (hereinafter  
         Decree-Law No 236/97) on the establishment of the Institute for Waste Management. 
      
      
       III ─ Facts, pre-litigation procedure and court proceedings
      
      20.  Member States had to transpose Directive 75/439 as amended by Directive 87/101 into their domestic law by 1 January 1990.
      
      21.  In its letters dated 8 March 1991, 13 April 1992, 11 December 1992 and 18 April 1994 the Portuguese Government informed the
      Commission that Directive 87/101 had been transposed into its domestic law by Decree-Law No 88/91 of 23 February 1991, Implementing
      Order No 240/92 of 25 March 1992, Implementing Order No 1028/92 of 5 November 1992 and Despacho conjunto dos Ministérios da
      Indústria e do Ambiente e Recursos Naturias (Joint Order of the Ministries for Industry and for the Environment and Natural
      Resources) of 26 April 1993.
      
      22.  Since the Commission took the view that Directive 75/439, as amended by Directive 87/101, had not been properly implemented
      by those provisions, it sent a letter of formal notice to the Portuguese Government on 4 July 1994 requiring it to give its
      response within two months.
      
      23.  Since the Portuguese Government's reply of 26 October 1994 did not, in the Commission's view, allay the suspicion that there
      had been an infringement of the Treaty, it sent a reasoned opinion to the Portuguese Republic on 27 November 1997 alleging
      various infringements of Directive 75/439, as amended by Directive 87/101, and requiring the Portuguese Republic to take the
      necessary measures within a period of two months ─ that is to say by 27 January 1998.  The Portuguese Government's letter
      in reply was dated 25 February 1998.
      
      24.  As the Commission had come to the conclusion that the Portuguese Republic had failed to comply with its obligations, it brought
      proceedings against the Portuguese Republic before the Court of Justice under Article 226 EC, by a pleading dated 8 October
      1999 which was lodged at the Court Registry on 13 October 1999.
      
      25.  The Commission claims that the Court should:
      
      1.  declare that:
      
      
      ─
      by failing to adopt provisions by which the competent authority, before granting a permit to undertakings which regenerate
      waste oils or use them as fuel, may satisfy itself that health is appropriately protected where waste oils are used as fuel
      and that the best available technology not entailing excessive cost is used where waste oils are regenerated or used as fuel;
       
      
      
      
      ─
      by failing to lay down that residues from the combustion of waste oils are to be disposed of in accordance with Article 9
      of Directive 78/319/EEC and, from 27 June 1995, in accordance with Article 9 of Directive 75/442/EEC, which, as amended by
      Directive 91/156/EEC and pursuant to Directive 91/689/EEC, replaced Article 9 of Directive 78/319/EEC;  
      
      
      
      ─
      by failing to provide for periodical inspection of undertakings which regenerate waste oils or use them as fuel, or for examination
      of trends in the state of technical development and/or of the environment with a view to revising, where necessary, permits
      granted to those undertakings;  
      
      
      
      ─
      by failing to convey to the Commission information concerning its technical expertise and the experience gained and results
      obtained through the application of measures taken pursuant to Directive 75/439/EEC, as amended by Directive 87/101/EEC, the Portuguese Republic has failed to fulfil its obligations under Articles 6(2), 8(2)(a), 13 and 17 of Directive 75/439/EEC,
      as amended by Council Directive 87/101/EEC, Article 10 EC and the third paragraph of Article 249 EC;  
      
      
      2.  order the Portuguese Republic to pay the costs. 
      
      
       IV ─ Consideration of the Commission's heads of claim
      
      
      
      A ─
       First head of claim
      
      26.  In its first head of claim the Commission alleges that the Portuguese Republic has failed to adopt provisions which ensure
      that undertakings which regenerate waste oils or use them as fuel will be granted a permit only if the criteria stipulated
      in Article 6(2) of Directive 75/439, as amended by Directive 87/101, are met ─ namely the protection of health, and use of
      the best technology available where the cost is not excessive.  
      
         			(10)
         		 1. Arguments of the parties
       Ensuring health protection: 
      27.  The  
       Commission  argues that it is mandatory for the grant of a permit by the competent national authority to undertakings which use waste
      oils as fuel to be contingent on health protection being ensured.  For reasons of legal certainty, the relevant rules on permits
      must be clear and precise so that the undertakings concerned are made aware that health protection measures are a precondition
      of their permits.
      
      28.  The Commission then states that it is not, however, clear to it which of the various provisions mentioned by the Portuguese
      Government are intended to apply to permits for undertakings which use waste oils as fuel.
      
      29.  Part VI of the Waste Oils Regulation Annexed to Implementing Order No 240/92 merely prohibits the use of waste oils as fuel
      in the food industry and is therefore insufficient.
      
      30.  The Commission argues with regard to the general provisions of industrial law referred to by the Portuguese Government that,
      whilst Implementing Order No 961/98 does certainly make provision for the inclusion of appropriate elements in an application
      for a permit, this order did not enter into force until after the period laid down in its reasoned opinion had expired and
      cannot therefore be taken into consideration in these infringement proceedings.
      
      31.  The  
       Portuguese Government  argues that it is established case-law of the Court of Justice that implementation of a directive does not necessarily require
      its provisions to be formally incorporated verbatim in express, specific legislation and that a general legal context may
      be adequate for the purpose, provided that it does indeed ensure the full application of the directive in a clear and precise
      manner.  
      
         			(11)
         		
      32.  In the opinion of the Portuguese Government, the essential point is whether an application for a permit to use waste oils
      as fuel does actually include ─ without its being necessary for a specific description to be expressly prescribed ─ the elements
      necessary to enable the competent authority to determine whether health protection is assured. 
      
      33.  The Portuguese Government concedes that health protection is not expressly covered in Part VI of the Waste Oils Regulation
      Annexed to Implementing Order No 240/92.  However, undertakings which use waste oils as fuel are bound in any event by the
      general rules on the pursuit of industrial activity.  The Portuguese Government refers in this connection to the obligation
      imposed on industrialists to conduct their business in such a way, in particular, that precautions are taken to avoid and
      reduce risk to humans.  
      
         			(12)
         		
      34.  It also argues that its industrial law  
      
         			(13)
         		 provides that the application for a permit to be submitted to the permit authority must contain an environmental impact study
      in accordance with the applicable legislation, and the permit authority must hear the views of bodies responsible for industrial
      matters, particularly on health issues.  The terms and conditions stipulated by those bodies have to be included in the permit.
       Finally, the rules contained in its industrial law provide that appropriate safeguard measures must be taken by the authorities
      immediately in the event of a serious health risk.  
      
         			(14)
         		
      35.  The Portuguese Government also refers to a provision which requires a risk assessment to be submitted  
      
         			(15)
         		 and to Implementing Order No 961/98, which makes it necessary to obtain a permit from the Environment Minister before storing,
      processing, recovering or disposing of waste.  An application for such a permit must also contain elements which ensure that
      appropriate health protection measures are taken. Use of the best technology available: 
      
      36.  In the opinion of the  
       Commission , the rules of domestic law submitted by Portugal do not ensure that use of the best technology available constitutes a  
       precondition  for a permit  to regenerate waste oils or use them as fuel.  The provisions of national law referred to are also too vague and diverse
      to ensure the necessary degree of legal certainty.
      
      37.  The  
       Portuguese Government  relies first of all, with regard to undertakings which regenerate waste oils, essentially on the provisions contained in
      the Portuguese Waste Oils Regulation: this provides, first, that the installation plan which has to be attached to an application
      for a permit must include a detailed description of the industrial activity concerned and a specification of the technical
      processes used,  
      
         			(16)
         		 thereby enabling the permit authority to establish whether there is indeed an intention to make use of the best technology
      available. Secondly, the application file also has to be referred to the Institute for Waste for an opinion.  
      
         			(17)
         		  This institute is obliged to have regard to the technology criterion.  The objective here is to avoid or reduce the harmfulness
      of waste, in particular by recycling and by adapting manufacturing processes using  
      appropriate technology.  
      
         			(18)
         		
      38.  The Portuguese Government also refers again to provisions of industrial law which apply to all undertakings, including those
      with which this case is concerned. It relies  
       inter alia  on the provision that industrial activity is to be carried out  
      having regard to the existing level of technological development.  
      
         			(19)
         		 There is also the requirement for a risk assessment, which has to be attached to the installation plans and must incorporate
      a  
      choice of technologies enabling the use of dangerous equipment or products to be avoided or reduced.  
      
         			(20)
         		 2. Analysis
      
      39.  Under Article 6(1) of Directive 75/439, as amended by Directive 87/101, any undertaking that disposes of waste oils must obtain
      a permit which, where necessary, is granted after examination of the installations.  In the case of undertakings which regenerate
      waste oils or use them as fuel, Article 6(2) imposes special conditions for the permit: permits may fundamentally be granted
      to those undertakings  
      only where the competent authority has satisfied itself that all appropriate environmental and health protection measures
      have been taken, including use of the best technology available, where the cost is not excessive.
      
      40.  This means that the permit procedure under national law must be designed in such a way that an undertaking which regenerates
      waste oils or uses them as fuel may obtain a permit from the competent authority only if it has taken the necessary measures.
       It is therefore a  
       material  precondition for a permit .
      
      41.  National provisions which require an application for a permit to contain appropriate documents and information do allow the
      authority to determine whether or not appropriate measures have been taken but do not lay down that it is a precondition for
      a permit that such measures be guaranteed ─ as required under the directive.
      
      42.  The implementation of Article 6(2) must now first be examined with regard to the health protection precondition for a permit.
      
      43.  The provisions of industrial law cited by the Portuguese Government in this respect contain a general obligation to have regard
      in particular to human safety and avert danger to people during the course of industrial activity.  However, this does not
      ensure that permits are granted only to undertakings which have taken all appropriate health protection measures.
      
      44.  Furthermore, whilst the measures of protection provided for under Portuguese industrial law do allow the authorities to react
      to hazardous situations which arise during the course of an undertaking's operations, they do not affect the permit procedure
      which precedes the commencement of operations by an undertaking.
      
      45.  The risk assessment and environmental impact study form part of the application for a permit; whilst they do therefore constitute
      a basis for assessing the grant of a permit, they likewise do not necessarily ensure that the precondition for such grant
      will be fulfilled.  Nor will the latter be secured by the fact that certain bodies must be allowed to state their views on
      health issues and can stipulate conditions.
      
      46.  Finally, as far as Implementing Order No 961/98 is concerned, it is sufficient to state that, in accordance with settled case-law
      of the Court of Justice, the question whether a Member State has failed to fulfil its obligations must be determined by reference
      to the situation prevailing in that Member State at the end of the period laid down in the reasoned opinion.  
      
         			(21)
         		  Portugal does not deny that Implementing Order No 961/98 was not adopted until 10 November 1998 ─ after the end of the period
      prescribed, which expired on 27 January 1998 ─ so this order is not relevant to the present proceedings, as the Commission
      has correctly stated.
      
      47.  None of the provisions cited by Portugal do therefore lay down, in accordance with Article 6(2) of Directive 75/439, as amended
      by Directive 87/101, that it is an essential condition for the grant of a permit to undertakings which use waste oils as fuel
      that the applicant should have taken all appropriate health protection measures.
      
      48.  The second issue to be considered is whether the conditions for a permit regarding the obligation to make use of the best
      technology available meet the requirements laid down in the directive.
      
      49.  The new permit application rules concerning a risk assessment and ─ for undertakings which regenerate waste oils ─ installation
      plans do certainly again provide essential information for examination of an application, but they do not in themselves ensure
      that use of the  
      best technology available actually constitutes a precondition for a permit.
      
      50.  Nor can such a precondition be inferred from the right of the Institute for Waste to give an opinion on an application for
      a permit, especially as it has not been claimed that such an opinion is binding and the objectives only make general mention
      of  
      appropriate technology and not of  
      the best technology available.
      
      51.  Finally, the fact that there is an obligation under general industrial law to conduct industrial activity having regard to
      the existing level of technological development likewise does not ensure that undertakings will be granted a permit to regenerate
      waste oils or use waste oils as fuel only if they make use of the best technology available, where the cost is not excessive.
      
      52.  The Commission's first head of claim is therefore well founded.
      
      
      
      B ─
       Second head of claim
       1. Arguments of the parties
      
      53.  The  
       Commission  claims that Portugal has failed, contrary to Article 8(2)(a) of Directive 75/439, as amended by Directive 87/101, to lay
      down that residues from the combustion of waste oils are to be disposed of in accordance with Article 9 of Directive 75/442
      on waste which, as amended by Directive 91/156, replaced Article 9 of Directive 78/319 from 27 June 1995.
      
      54.  In the absence of any specific indication, the reference in Article 8(2)(a) to Article 9 of Directive 78/319 on toxic and
      dangerous waste must be understood, since the repeal of that directive by Directive 91/689 on hazardous waste, as a reference
      to Article 9 of Directive 75/442 on waste, as amended by Directive 91/156.
      
      55.  Under Article 1(2) of Directive 91/689, Directive 75/442 on waste is to apply to hazardous waste, subject to Directive 91/689.
       However, since Directive 91/689 does not itself contain any specific provisions to the contrary, Article 9 of Directive 75/442,
      as amended by Directive 91/156, also applies to hazardous waste.  That article makes the disposal of residues from the combustion
      of waste oils subject to the prior grant of a permit by the competent authority and also lays down the conditions for such
      a permit.
      
      56.  Comparison of the provisions in Article 9 of Directive 78/319 and those in Article 9 of Directive 75/442, as amended by Directive
      91/156, shows that they are essentially concordant.  According to case-law of the Court of Justice,  
      
         			(22)
         		 the Commission is permitted in these circumstances to refer to Directive 75/442, as amended by Directive 91/156, for the
      first time in its application originating the proceedings.
      
      57.  None of the provisions cited by Portugal in the pre-litigation procedure corresponded to implementation of Article 9 of Directive
      75/442, as amended by Directive 91/156, that is to say to the disposal of residues from the combustion of waste oils.
      
      58.  Implementing Order No 961/98 would, on the other hand, constitute appropriate implementation, but it did not enter into force
      until after the expiry of the period laid down in the reasoned opinion and therefore cannot be taken into account.
      
      59.  The  
       Portuguese Government  contests the admissibility of this complaint on the part of the Commission on the grounds that implementation of Directive
      75/442, as amended by Directive 91/156, was not the subject of the reasoned opinion. These are  
      new matters of fact by which Portugal's rights of defence are infringed.
      
      60.  It argues that Article 9 of Directive 75/442, as amended by Directive 91/156, has nevertheless been implemented in its entirety.
       Under Decree-Law No 88/91 all tipping or landfilling of waste oils or their residues which is harmful to the soil is prohibited
      and the carriage, disposal and recovery of waste oils require a permit from the Director-General for Environmental Quality.
       
      
         			(23)
         		
      61.  Since 1997, moreover, under Decree-Law No 239/97 the storage, treatment, recovery and disposal of waste have required prior
      authorisation  
      
         			(24)
         		 which, as far as residues from the combustion of waste oils are concerned, is granted by the Environment Minister.  
      
         			(25)
         		  Under Implementing Order No 961/98  
      
         			(26)
         		 an application for such a permit must include documents relating in particular to technical provisions affecting the plant,
      the safety precautions to be taken, the disposal location and the treatment method used.
       2. Analysis
       (a) The permissibility of the reference to Article 9 of Directive 75/442, as amended by Directive 91/156, being made for the
      first time in the Commission's application
      
      62.  The Portuguese Government is claiming that it is impermissible for the Commission to mention for the first time in its application,
      with regard to implementation of Article 8(2)(a) of Directive 75/439, as amended by Directive 87/101, not just Article 9 of
      Directive 78/319 but also Article 9 of Directive 75/442, as amended by Directive 91/156.
      
      63.  Because of the complexity of the various references it is necessary first of all to clarify whether Article 9 of Directive
      75/442, as amended by Directive 91/156, did actually replace Article 9 of Directive 78/319.
      
      64.  As is apparent from the recitals in its preamble, Directive 91/689 replaced Directive 78/319; it did so with effect from the
      repeal of the latter on 27 June 1995.  
      
         			(27)
         		 It would therefore seem justifiable in this respect henceforth to construe the reference to Directive 78/319 contained in
      Article 8(2)(a) of Directive 75/439, as amended by Directive 87/101, as a reference to Directive 91/689.
      
      65.  In so far as Directive 91/689 does not contain any specific provisions, and in accordance with the reservation clause contained
      in Article 1(2) thereof, Directive 91/689 extends the application of Directive 75/442, as amended by Directive 91/156, to
      hazardous waste.
      
      66.  As Directive 91/689 does not contain any specific provisions in this connection Article 9 of Directive 75/442, as amended
      by Directive 91/156, constitutes one of the articles which apply to residues from the combustion of waste oils.
      
      67.  The Commission's view that the reference in Article 8(2)(a) must now be construed as a reference to Article 9 of Directive
      75/442, as amended by Directive 91/156, can therefore be endorsed in this respect.
      
      68.  The issue which remains to be examined, however, is the scope of the subject-matter of the dispute in the reasoned opinion
      and in the application lodged by the Commission.
      
      69.  It is established case-law of the Court of Justice that the letter of formal notice and the reasoned opinion delimit the subject-matter
      of the dispute, so that it cannot thereafter be extended.  Otherwise the Member State concerned would be denied an opportunity
      to submit its observations, which constitutes an essential guarantee intended by the Treaty, adherence to which is an essential
      formal requirement of the procedure for a declaration that a Member State has failed to fulfil its obligations under the Treaty.
       Consequently, the reasoned opinion and the proceedings brought by the Commission must be based on the same complaints as
      those set out in the letter of formal notice.  
      
         			(28)
         		
      70.  The Court of Justice stated, however, in its judgment in Case C-365/97  
       Commission  v  
       Italy , on which the Commission is relying in this case, that  
      it is none the less true that, where Community law is amended during the course of the  
       pre-litigation procedure , the Commission has standing to seek a declaration that a Member State has failed to fulfil obligations which were created
      in the initial version of a directive, subsequently amended or repealed, and which were  
       maintained in force  under the new provisions.  
      
         			(29)
         		
      71.  In the present case, the pre-litigation procedure under Article 226 EC was initiated by the Commission's letter of formal
      notice dated 4 July 1994. During the course of the pre-litigation procedure, Article 9 of Directive 78/319, to which reference
      is made in Article 8(2) of Directive 75/439, as amended by Directive 87/101, and on which the Commission relied both in its
      letter of formal notice and in its reasoned opinion, was repealed, and replaced by Article 9 of Directive 75/442, as amended
      by Directive 91/156.
      
      72.  The judgment in  
       Commission   v  
       Italy   concerned the amendment of a directive during the pre-litigation procedure by which many of its provisions were tightened
      up.  The Court ruled that a complaint of non-implementation based on a directive in its amended version (not the version referred
      to in the reasoned opinion) is admissible only in so far as it concerns obligations which were already in existence under
      the original version referred to in the reasoned opinion.  
      
         			(30)
         		
      73.  It should admittedly be noted in the present case that the amendment during the pre-litigation procedure was not an amendment
      to the wording of Directive 75/439 as amended by Directive 87/101 itself, but an amendment by means of the replacement of
      Directive 78/319, to which the first of the aforementioned directives refers.  However, this fact alone does not basically
      change anything.
      
      74.  Consideration should rather be given to the extent to which the obligations which apply under Article 8(2)(a) of Directive
      75/439, as amended by Directive 87/101, to the disposal of residues from the combustion of waste oils, and which are now derived
      ─ according to the Commission's application ─ from Article 9 of Directive 75/442, as amended by Directive 91/156, already
      applied under Article 9 of Directive 78/319.
      
      75.  Article 9 of Directive 78/319 contains an obligation to obtain permits for relevant activities of undertakings and establishments,
      details the specific aspects which the permits are to cover and makes it obligatory for Member States to exercise control
      over such undertakings.  Article 9(3) provides that permits may include conditions and obligations, may be granted for a specified
      period and may be renewed.
      
      76.  Article 9(1) of Directive 75/442, as amended by Directive 91/156, imposes an obligation on establishments or undertakings
      which dispose of residues from the combustion of waste oils to obtain a permit.  Article 9(1) also contains a non-exhaustive
      list of matters to be covered by permits.  Under Article 9(2) permits may be subject to conditions and obligations, may be
      granted for a specified period or renewed  
       or notably, if the intended method of disposal is unacceptable from the point of view of environmental protection, they may be
      refused.
      
      77.  Like Article 9(1) of Directive 75/442, as amended by Directive 91/156, therefore, Article 9(1) and (2) of Directive 78/319
      does not contain any preconditions for the grant of permits but, in addition to the obligation to obtain a permit, sets out
      individual matters which such permits should include.  No power to refuse a permit if the preconditions for a permit are not
      met can therefore in principle be derived from the aforementioned provisions.  In contrast to Article 9(3) of Directive 78/319,
      however, Article 9(2) of Directive 75/442, as amended by Directive 91/156, also provides that permits may be refused in certain
      circumstances (
      notably, if the intended method of disposal is unacceptable from the point of view of environmental protection).  Even if Article 9(2) of Directive 75/442, as amended by Directive 91/156, like Article 9(3) of Directive 78/319, in principle
      contains only a discretionary power (both paragraphs state that permits  
      may ...), under Article 9(2) of Directive 75/442, as amended by Directive 91/156, at any rate, Member States are required, in their
      implementation of the directive, to make appropriate provision not only for the possibility of permits being granted for a
      specified period, being renewed or being made subject to conditions and obligations, but  
       in addition  for the possibility of refusal as set out in that provision.
      
      78.  Since, so far as concerns the possibility of refusing a permit under Article 9(2) of Directive 75/442, as amended by Directive
      91/156, the implementation obligation owed by the Member State concerned has been extended to this extent compared with the
      obligation under Article 9(3) of Directive 78/319 referred to in the reasoned opinion, an infringement in this respect is
      not to be examined in the present proceedings.
      
      79.  The subject-matter of the dispute has not been extended by the application lodged by the Commission, however, in so far as
      obligations already existed under Article 9 of Directive 78/319 and were incorporated from 27 June 1995 in Article 9 of Directive
      75/442, as amended by Directive 91/156.  The Portuguese Government did therefore to that extent ─ but only to that extent
      ─ have an opportunity to submit observations on the Commission's allegations with regard to the obligations deriving from
      Article 8(2)(a) of Directive 75/439 as amended by Directive 87/101, in conjunction with Article 9 of Directive 75/442 as amended
      by Directive 91/156.  The fact that the references in the Commission's application and in its reasoned opinion are not identical
      does not constitute grounds for ruling this complaint inadmissible in so far as the same obligations already existed under
      Article 9 of Directive 78/319 and were incorporated in Article 9 of Directive 75/442, as amended by Directive 91/156; the
      complaint is inadmissible to the extent that obligations did not exist under Article 9 of Directive 78/319.(b) Infringement of Article 8(2)(a)
      
      80.  As the complaint is partially inadmissible, the following analysis is correspondingly restricted. 
      
      81.  It follows from Article 8(2)(a) of Directive 75/439 as amended by Directive 87/101, in conjunction with Article 9 of Directive
      78/319 and, from 27 June 1995, in conjunction with Article 9 of Directive 75/442 as amended by Directive 91/156, that the
      Member States are obliged to make the disposal of residues from the combustion of waste oils subject to prior grant of a permit
      covering in particular the types and quantities of waste, the technical requirements, the security precautions to be taken,
      the disposal site and the treatment method.  Hence there is an obligation to lay down an appropriate permit procedure.  Provision
      is also to be made for the possibility of granting permits for a specified period, renewing them and making them subject to
      conditions and obligations.  As already stated above, there is no need to consider any further obligations in the present
      proceedings.
      
      82.  The Portuguese Government claims that it has fulfilled its obligations with Decree-Laws No 88/91 and No 239/97 and Implementing
      Order No 961/98.
      
      83.  Decree-Law No 88/91 does not contain any appropriate implementation measures as Article 2 thereof, which relates to residues
      from the combustion of waste oils, does not provide for a permit procedure for the disposal of such  residues but only imposes
      a prohibition on the tipping and landfilling of waste oils and residues resulting from their treatment, whilst Article 4 does
      contain a permit procedure but one which covers only waste oils and not residues from their combustion. 
      
      84.  Articles 8 and 9 of Decree-Law No 239/97 merely provide that the disposal of residues from the combustion of waste oils requires
      a prior permit from the Environment Minister as they are  
      waste.
      
      85.  It is argued by the Portuguese Government that more detailed rules relating to this permit procedure are contained in Implementing
      Order No 961/98, but no account can be taken of that order in the present proceedings because it was not adopted until after
      expiry of the period laid down in the reasoned opinion.  
      
         			(31)
         		
      86.  Since the cited provisions of Decree-Law No 239/97 in themselves lay down only an obligation to obtain a permit and do not
      provide for a permit procedure ensuring the appropriate examination of applications, the obligations under Article 8(2)(a)
      of Directive 75/439 as amended by Directive 87/101, in conjunction with Article 9 of Directive 78/319 and, from 27 June 1995,
      in conjunction with Article 9 of Directive 75/442 as amended by Directive 91/156, which are to be adjudicated upon here have
      not been appropriately implemented by Decree-Law No 239/97 either.
      
      87.  The Commission's second head of claim is therefore well founded to the restricted extent described and inadmissible as to
      the remainder.
      
      
      
      C ─
       Third head of claim
       1. Arguments of the parties
      
      88.  The Commission is alleging that the Portuguese Republic has failed to make statutory provision for periodical inspections
      of undertakings which regenerate waste oils or use them as fuel, a requirement under Article 13(1) of Directive 75/439, as
      amended by Directive 87/101, and for the examination of trends in the state of technical development and/or of the environment,
      with a view to revising, where necessary, permits granted to undertakings, as required under Article 13(2).  In its reply
      to the reasoned opinion, Portugal did not deny that the Waste Oils Regulation Annexed to Implementing Order No 240/92 in any
      event does not contain any such provisions.
       Periodical inspections
      
      89.  The  
       Commission  takes the view that none of the provisions cited by the Portuguese Government ensures that the inspections required under
      Article 13(1) will be carried out periodically and systematically.  It points out in particular that this is not ensured by
      the mere fact that, according to the Portuguese Government, undertakings can undergo inspection  
      at any time.
      
      90.  So far as concerns the annual schedule of periodical inspections of refuse processing plants which is mentioned by the Portuguese
      Government, the Commission did concede at the hearing that this was not just a purely administrative practice but it still
      doubts whether Article 13(1) has been properly implemented.
      
      91.  The  
       Portuguese Government  first cites provisions contained in various decree-laws regulating the overseeing of compliance with the decree-laws in question.
       
      
         			(32)
         		
      92.  Furthermore, the Institute for Waste's duties include implementing national policy on waste and monitoring compliance with
      technical standards and regulations.  The Institute for Waste carries out intersectoral action in cooperation with various
      other agencies, including in the field of industrial waste.  
      
         			(33)
         		
      93.  The Portuguese Government adds that it is possible, in the event of serious risk, to adopt interim protective measures, and
      to impose fines and sanctions.  
      
         			(34)
         		
      94.  It further submits that industrial law gives third parties the right to lodge a complaint,  
      
         			(35)
         		 which would be followed by appropriate steps, in particular by inspections.  
      
         			(36)
         		
      95.  The Portuguese Government also states that the Office for Environmental Inspection and Supervision, which is responsible for
      inspecting industrial installations and other sources of pollution, is obliged  
       inter alia  to carry out both regular inspections in accordance with an annual schedule to be approved by the minister and  
       ad hoc  inspections, the outcome of which must be notified to the minister with responsibility for supervision in the sector.  
      
         			(37)
         		 Examination of trends in the state of technical development and/or of the environment and the revision of permits
      
      96.  The  
       Commission  argues that the Portuguese Government should not confuse this with the obligation to conform to standards in the environmental
      and technological field imposed by (new) Community provisions.
      
      97.  Article 13(2) requires Member States to keep developments in the technical field under permanent examination so that if, for
      example, more modern plant or equipment should come onto the market, a permit which has been granted to an undertaking may
      be amended accordingly.  The authorities must also examine environmental developments so that, if the environmental situation
      should deteriorate in the vicinity of an undertaking, its permit can be amended accordingly.  Reliance on inspection procedures
      alone is not sufficient to ensure fulfilment of the obligation to examine trends in the state of technical development and
      the environment.
      
      98.  In the opinion of the  
       Portuguese Government  there will be constant adaptation to trends in the state of technical development where new national rules, such as Decree-Law
      No 239/97 on waste management, essentially constitute implementation of Community provisions in the field of technical and
      scientific progress.
      
      99.  In amending its legislation the Portuguese legislature need not confine itself to the implementation of directives.  In any
      event, these are not decisions of the administration, but of the legislature.
      
      100.  Furthermore, if there should be a serious risk to public health or the environment, the Environment or Health Minister is
      obliged to take interim protective measures; rights to exercise general control and take appropriate protective measures are
      also afforded under industrial law.  
      
         			(38)
         		
      101.  Finally, various legal provisions prescribe penalties which may be imposed where infringements (of those provisions) take
      place.  
      
         			(39)
         		 2. Analysis
       Periodical inspections
      
      102.  In accordance with the recitals in the preamble to Directive 75/439, as amended by Directive 87/101, it is necessary for the
      protection of the environment that an appropriate authorisation mechanism should be set up together with a suitable system
      for (subsequent) supervision.  
      
         			(40)
         		  Member States are therefore obliged under Article 13(1) of that directive to ensure that undertakings disposing of waste
      oils pursuant to Article 6 are inspected periodically as regards their compliance with the conditions of their permits.
      
      103.  The provisions relating to supervisory powers contained in various decree-laws to which the Portuguese Government refers do
      not meet these requirements.  First, they do not lay down any obligation to carry out regular or periodical inspections, but
      just general powers of inspection.  Secondly, those powers clearly relate only to compliance with provisions of the respective
      decree-laws and not specifically to compliance with the conditions of permits as referred to in Article 13(1).  The provisions
      concerning the scope of the Institute for Waste's duties are inadequate for the same reasons.
      
      104.  Nor can periodical ─ obligatory ─ inspection as regards compliance with the conditions of permits be ensured by the  
       possibility  of a complaint under industrial law which  
       can  be followed by an inspection.  In so far as the Portuguese Government also relies in this connection on provisions contained
      in Implementing Order No 961/98, these once again cannot be taken into account. 
      
         			(41)
         		
      105.  The interim protective measures envisaged by various provisions and the possible penalties likewise do not ensure that periodical
      inspections will be carried out as regards compliance with the conditions of permits.  They can at most constitute a response
      to the consequences of an operation not being conducted in accordance with a permit.
      
      106.  Finally, with regard to the submission that the Office for Environmental Inspection and Supervision has to carry out inspections
      in accordance with an annual schedule to be approved by the Minister, it does not follow therefrom that provision has been
      made for periodical inspection of undertakings which dispose of waste oils or that such inspections are specifically directed
      at compliance with the conditions of permits.  In so far as the Portuguese Government has also made reference to Decree-Law
      No 549/99 with regard to the function of the Directorate-General for the Environment, it must be stated that the period laid
      down in the reasoned opinion expired before that decree-law entered into force.  
      
         			(42)
         		
      107.  It can be seen from the foregoing that Article 13(1) of Directive 75/439, as amended by Directive 87/101, was not properly
      transposed into Portuguese law.
       Examination of trends in the state of technical development and/or of the environment and the revision of permits
      
      108.  The inspection procedure provided for in Article 13(1) of Directive 75/439, as amended by Directive 87/101, is expanded in
      Article 13(2) by a dynamic element intended to ensure that permits, once granted, are adapted to trends in the state of technical
      development and/or of the environment.
      
      109.  It is necessary to dismiss at the outset the general argument put forward by the Portuguese Government that the necessary
      adaptation is ensured by continuing change in national legal provisions, particularly those implementing Community provisions.
       First, there is an obligation to implement Community legislation irrespective of Article 13(2) and, second, this provision
      is specifically concerned with a permanent ability to revise permits inasmuch as relevant developments could make it necessary
      for the competent authorities to make individual adjustments to permits.
      
      110.  So far as the provisions of national law cited by the Portuguese Government are concerned, they consist, on the one hand,
      of a general power to oversee observance of provisions of industrial law and, on the other, of provisions which enable interim
      protective measures to be adopted in the event of health or the environment being (seriously) endangered.  Those provisions
      do not contain any obligation to carry out examinations and ─ where appropriate ─ make adjustments.  Nor, again, can reliance
      upon specific penalty provisions contained in the various legislative measures refute the allegation of failure to implement
      this obligation.
      
      111.  The Commission's third head of claim is therefore also well founded.
      
      
      
      D ─
       Fourth head of claim
       1. Arguments of the parties
      
      112.  It is the view of the  
       Commission  that Portugal has infringed Article 17 of Directive 75/439, as amended by Directive 87/101, by failing to convey to it information
      concerning technical expertise and the experience gained and results obtained through the application of measures taken pursuant
      to the directive.
      
      113.  The Commission argues with regard to the Portuguese Government's assertion that it has not acquired any technical knowledge
      that there is still a duty to convey information even if a Member State should be of the opinion that it does not have any
      technical knowledge, because this too constitutes information which is worth conveying to it.  Otherwise it would fall to
      a Member State to decide whether it is necessary to convey information, which would frustrate the intention of Article 17
      and deprive the Commission of control over compliance with the duty to convey information.  The Commission states, with regard
      to the fact that the directive does not define the frequency with which information is to be conveyed, that it must in any
      event be conveyed at periodical intervals the length of which must be reasonable having regard to the kind of information
      required.
      
      114.  When considered in this light, the time which has elapsed since the enactment between February 1991 and April 1993 of the
      national provisions intended, according to the Portuguese view, to implement Directive 75/439, as amended by Directive 87/101,
      is in any event sufficient to enable the experience and knowledge resulting from the application of those provisions to be
      assembled and conveyed.
      
      115.  The first report submitted by the Portuguese Government lists the national provisions implementing the directive in question
      and describes them but does not contain the information to which Article 17 refers.  The same applies to its second report;
      although certain elements of the second report could be regarded as information within the meaning of that article, they were
      in any event not conveyed to the Commission until after the period laid down in the reasoned opinion had expired.
      
      116.  The  
       Portuguese Government  states in its defence that it has not acquired any technical knowledge and that the intervals at which such information is
      to be conveyed are not specified in the provision in question.
      
      117.  It also states that it sent the Commission its first report under Article 18 of Directive 75/439, as amended by Directive
      87/101, on 14 August 1995.  Its second report, covering the years 1995 to 1997, was enclosed with its defence and sent to
      the Commission by letter of 29 November 1999.
       2. Analysis
      
      118.  The Commission is correct in stating that the fulfilment of an obligation to convey information, as laid down in Article 17
      of Directive 75/439, as amended by Directive 87/101, cannot depend upon whether the Member State considers that it has knowledge
      which is worth conveying.  A Member State could otherwise argue that it has not acquired any knowledge, a claim which would
      probably be difficult to refute in most cases as a subjective assessment is involved.  Furthermore, the Commission could not
      actually gauge whether a Member State which has not conveyed information is in breach of its obligation to convey that information
      or is merely of the opinion that it does not have any knowledge worth conveying.  This would obstruct the Commission in its
      task of overseeing compliance with Community law and jeopardise the efficacy of the obligation to convey information.
      
      119.  Apart from this, however, disclosure that no new technical knowledge has been acquired in connection with the disposal of
      waste oils can also be informative for the purposes of the directive.
      
      120.  Under Article 17, moreover, information on the experience gained and results obtained is to be conveyed in addition to information
      relating to technical expertise and it would seem improbable once a certain amount of time has passed that no technical knowledge
      has been acquired nor experience gained or results obtained through the application of measures taken pursuant to the directive.
      
      121.  The argument that the directive does not specify the frequency with which information is to be conveyed is not a persuasive
      one either.  Between the date on which the first Portuguese measure designed to implement the directive, Decree-Law No 88/91
      of 23 February 1991, entered into force and the expiry of the period laid down in the reasoned opinion, a period of almost
      seven years elapsed without any information being conveyed in accordance with Article 17.  This means that, without it being
      necessary to consider in greater detail the issue of the frequency of reports, there obviously cannot be any question of Portugal
      having fulfilled its obligation to convey information periodically.
      
      122.  Even the two reports which were sent to the Commission on 14 August 1995 and 29 November 1999 respectively did not fulfil
      the duty to convey information under Article 17.
      
      123.  The report of 14 August 1995 cannot, having regard to its content, be considered a report for the purposes of Article 17 because,
      as rightly argued by the Commission, it contains only a description of the national provisions implementing Directive 75/439,
      as amended by Directive 87/101, and does not include the information relating to technical expertise, experience gained and
      results obtained which is specifically required under Article 17.  The more recent report cannot be taken into consideration
      because it was not submitted until after the period laid down in the reasoned opinion had expired.
      
      124.  Furthermore, on the Portuguese Government's own admission, both reports are supposed to be reports under  
       Article 18 
         			(43)
         		 of Directive 75/439, as amended by Directive 87/101.  Implementation of Article 18 is not the subject-matter of the present
      Treaty infringement proceedings, however, so that there is also no need to consider the extent to which the obligations under
      that article were fulfilled by the reports cited by the Portuguese Government.
      
      125.  The fourth head of claim is therefore also well founded.
       V ─ Costs
      
      126.  Under Article 69(2) of the Rules of Procedure of the Court of Justice, the unsuccessful party is to be ordered to pay the
      costs if they have been applied for in the successful party's pleadings.  Since the Commission has applied for costs and the
      Portuguese Republic is essentially unsuccessful, the Portuguese Republic must be ordered to pay the costs.
        VI ─ Conclusion
      
      127.  In light of the foregoing, I recommend that the Court should:
      (1) declare that: 
      
      
      ─
      by failing to adopt provisions by which the competent authority, before granting a permit to undertakings which regenerate
      waste oils or use them as fuel, may satisfy itself that health is appropriately protected where waste oils are used as fuel
      and that the best available technology not entailing excessive cost is used where waste oils are regenerated or used as fuel;
       
      
      
      
      ─
      by failing to lay down that the disposal of residues from the combustion of waste oils requires a permit which covers in particular
      the types and quantities of waste, the technical requirements, the security precautions to be taken, the disposal site and
      the treatment method and which may be granted for a specified period, be renewed and be made subject to conditions and obligations,
      in accordance with Article 9 of Directive 78/319/EEC and, from 27 June 1995, in accordance with Article 9 of Directive 75/442/EEC,
      which, as amended by Directive 91/156/EEC and pursuant to Directive 91/689/EEC, replaced Article 9 of Directive 78/319/EEC;
       
      
      
      
      ─
      by failing to provide for periodical inspection of undertakings which regenerate waste oils or use them as fuel, or for examination
      of trends in the state of technical development and/or of the environment with a view to revising, where necessary, permits
      granted to those undertakings;  
      
      
      
      ─
      by failing to convey to the Commission information concerning its technical expertise and the experience gained and results
      obtained through the application of measures taken pursuant to Directive 75/439/EEC, as amended by Directive 87/101/EEC,  
      
      the Portuguese Republic has failed to fulfil its obligations under Articles 6(2), 8(2)(a), 13 and 17 of Directive 75/439/EEC,
      as amended by Council Directive 87/101/EEC, Article 10 EC and the third paragraph of Article 249 EC; 
      
      (2) dismiss the remainder of the application; 
      
      (3) order the Portuguese Republic to pay the costs. 
      
      
      
       1 –
         
           Original language: German.
      
      2 –
         
         OJ 1987 L 42, p. 43.
      
      3 –
         
         See the third recital in the preamble to the directive.
      
      4 –
         
         OJ 1978 L 84, p. 43.
      
      5 –
         
         OJ 1991 L 377, p. 20.
      
      6 –
         
         See the first recital in the preamble to Directive 91/689/EEC and Article 11 of that directive, as amended by Council Directive
            94/31/EC of 27 June 1994 (OJ 1994 L 168, p. 28).
         
      
      7 –
         
         OJ 1975 L 194, p. 39.
      
      8 –
         
         OJ 1991 L 78, p. 32.
      
      9 –
         
         The provisions of national law are set out below with a reference to their content.
      
      10 –
         
         In contrast to its reasoned opinion, the Commission is objecting to the rules on permits for undertakings which regenerate
            waste oils only with regard to the requirement of use of the best technology available whereas it is objecting to the rules
            on permits for undertakings which use waste oils as fuel with regard to ensuring both use of the best technology available
            and the protection of health.
         
      
      11 –
         
         See in particular the judgment in Case C-96/95  
             Commission  v  
             Germany  [1997] ECR I-1653.
         
      
      12 –
         
         Articles 4 and 5 of Decree-Law No 109/91 on the pursuit of industrial activity.
      
      13 –
         
         Article 9 of Decree-Law No 109/91.
      
      14 –
         
         Article 13 of Decree-Law No 109/91.
      
      15 –
         
         Article 2(4) of Implementing Order No 314/94.
      
      16 –
         
         Article 13 of the Waste Oils Regulation Annexed to Implementing Order No 240/92.
      
      17 –
         
         Article 15 of that regulation.
      
      18 –
         
         Article 4(1) of Decree-Law No 239/97.
      
      19 –
         
         Article 4 of Decree-Law No 109/91 on industrial activity.
      
      20 –
         
         Article 2(4)(b) of Implementing Order No 314/94.
      
      21 –
         
         See, amongst other authorities, the judgment in Case C-435/99  
             Commission  v  
             Portugal  [2000] ECR I-11179, paragraph 16.
         
      
      22 –
         
         Judgment in Case C-365/97  
             Commission  v  
             Italy  [1999] ECR I-7773.
         
      
      23 –
         
         Articles 2 and 4(2) of Decree-Law No 88/91.
      
      24 –
         
         Article 8(1) of Decree-Law No 239/97.
      
      25 –
         
         Ibid., Article 9.
      
      26 –
         
         Article 10 of Decree-Law No 239/97 and Article 3(c) of Implementing Order No 961/98 in conjunction with Annexes I and II thereto.
      
      27 –
         
         Article 11 of Directive 91/689, as amended by Directive 94/31.
      
      28 –
         
         See the judgment in Case C-191/95  
             Commission  v  
             Germany  [1998] ECR I-5449, paragraph 55.
         
      
      29 –
         
         Judgment in Case C-365/97 (cited in footnote 22), paragraph 36; emphasis added.
      
      30 –
         
         See  
             Commission  v  
             Italy , cited above, paragraphs 36 and 39.
         
      
      31 –
         
         See above, point 46.
      
      32 –
         
         Article 5 of Decree-Law No 88/91, Article 12 of Decree-Law No 109/91 and Article 18 of Decree-Law No 239/97.
      
      33 –
         
         Articles 2(1) and 13(2) of Decree-Law No 236/97.
      
      34 –
         
         Articles 19 to 21 of Decree-Law No 239/97.
      
      35 –
         
         Article 7 of Decree-Law No 109/91 in conjunction with Article 8 of Implementing Order No 961/98.
      
      36 –
         
         Article 7(2) of Implementing Order No 961/98.
      
      37 –
         
         Article 6(4) of Decree-Law No 189/93.
      
      38 –
         
         Article 19 of Decree-Law No 239/97 and Articles 12 and 13 of Decree-Law No 109/91.
      
      39 –
         
         Article 16 of Decree-Law No 109/91, Articles 20(1) and 8(1) of Decree-Law No 239/97.
      
      40 –
         
         See the seventh and eighth recitals.
      
      41 –
         
         See above, point 46.
      
      42 –
         
         Decree-Law No 549/99 dates from 14 December 1999 whereas the period laid down in the reasoned opinion expired on 27 January
            1998; see the observations in point 46, and footnote 21.
         
      
      43 –
         
         Article 18 relates to situation reports on the disposal of waste oils whereas Article 17 relates to information concerning
            technical expertise and the experience gained and results obtained through the application of measures taken to transpose
            the directive.