The application of EU legislation in the environmental field is improving. From the report on the implementation of the environmental legislation of the European Union by member states it emerges that at the end of 2005 Brussels had opened 489 provisions for infringements against 570 in 2004: a reduction of 14%. The improvement of the situation is linked – according to the Commission’s General Directorate for the Environment – to a reform of the approach to violations and “stepped-up assistance provided to member states”. Violations are divided into three categories: non-communication and lack of conversion in national law (23%); non-conformity with EU law converted into national provisions (17%); and poor application of the legislation correctly converted into national law (60%). Italy with 77 procedures for breaches opened against her and Spain with 57 head the league table: the new member states – in the second year of the presentation of the statistical data – are all below a level of 10 violations. France, by contrast, is the main culprit for non-compliance (in 14 cases) with the rulings of the European Court.
