Press Release: Spain: Commission pursues legal action over infringements of EU environmental legislation

The European Commission has decided to pursue legal action against Spain in six separate cases over breaches of EU laws to protect the environment and public health. In four of these cases, the Commission is following up earlier rulings by the European Court of Justice. It is sending Spain a final written warning for failing to comply fully with a ruling requiring measures to reduce pollution in its coastal waters. Spain will receive first written warnings for failing to comply with rulings in three other cases, concerning urban waste water treatment, pollution of shellfish waters, and environmental impact assessments. In another case, the Commission is taking Spain to the Court for failing to properly transpose into national law an EU directive aimed at curbing industrial pollution, the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive. Finally, the Commission will send Spain a first written warning for failing to properly transpose the EU directive on drinking water.