Press Release: Commission report shows better implementation of environmental legislation in 2005

A new report shows that the number of infringement cases opened by the European Commission for breaches of EU environmental legislation went down significantly in 2005. This is due to a more efficient way of handling complaints and infringement proceedings on the part of the Commission, together with swifter action by Member States to comply with their obligations. The Commission has adopted a more strategic approach, grouping together cases which concern the same issue and focusing on general cases which cut across several policy areas. It has also stepped up its assistance to the Member States, meeting the national authorities more often and providing them with guidance documents. By the end of 2005, the Commission had 489 infringement cases open in the environment field as compared to 570 at the end of 2004. This represents a reduction of 14%.