Press Release: Ireland: Commission to bring environmental impact assessment case to the European Court of Justice

The European Commission has decided to refer Ireland to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in a case concerning European Community (EC) legislation on environmental impact assessments. The case concerns provisions of Irish legislation governing the approval of incinerators and other large industrial projects and provisions governing the removal of important archaeological sites. The Commission is happy to announce that steps taken by the Irish authorities have brought the Commission to close a separate case concerning nitrates. The Commission also welcomes a co-operation document agreed between Ireland and the United Kingdom on combating illegal waste exports.