Press Release: Environmental infringements: Commission takes legal action against Germany and Spain

The European Commission on 15 July 2005 decided to continue legal infringement procedures against Germany and Spain for breaches of EU environmental legislation. Germany received a first warning because it had not yet complied with a 2004 ruling by the European Court of Justice. The Court had condemned Germany for failing to incorporate into its national laws an important EU law on genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Spain was to be referred to the Court in two cases involving wild bird protection and protection of the Earth's ozone layer. In two other cases, concerning public access to environmental information and strategic environmental assessment, Spain received final warnings before possible Court action.