1 By application lodged at the Court Registry on 6 October 2000, the Commission of the European Communities brought an action under Article 226 EC for a declaration that by failing to adopt the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with Council Directive 96/49/EC of 23 July 1996 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States with regard to the transport of dangerous goods by rail (OJ 1996 L 235, p. 25) and Commission Directive 96/87/EC of 13 December 1996 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 96/49 (OJ 1996 L 335, p. 45), or by failing to inform the Commission of those measures, Ireland has failed to fulfil its obligations under those Directives.
2 Under Article 10(1) of Directive 96/49 and Article 2(1) of Directive 96/87 Member States are required to bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with those Directives before 1 January 1997 and to inform the Commission thereof forthwith.
3 Taking the view that Directive 96/49 and Directive 96/87 had not been incorporated into Irish law within the prescribed period, the Commission initiated the procedure in respect of failure to fulfil Treaty obligations. On 27 January 2000 and on 1 February 2000, having given Ireland formal notice to submit its observations, the Commission sent two reasoned opinions to Ireland requesting it to adopt the measures necessary to comply therewith within two months from the date of notification of the opinions.
4 Since it received no information as to whether the incorporation of the directives had been completed, the Commission brought the present action.
5 Pointing out the obligations of the Member States under Article 10 EC and the third paragraph of Article 249 EC, the Commission submits that Ireland was required to take all the measures necessary to comply with Directives 96/49 and 96/87.
6 Ireland, which does not deny the failure to fulfil its obligations, states that the Directives in question are in the course of being incorporated into national law.
7 Since the incorporation of Directives 96/49 and 96/87 has not taken place within the prescribed period, the Commission's action must be regarded as well founded.
8 Consequently it must be held that, by failing to adopt the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with Directives 96/49 and 96/87, Ireland has failed to fulfil its obligations under those Directives.