Just when the European Commissioner for the environment, Mrs. Margot Wallstroem, was making known the EU’s environmental priorities for 2003 (implementation of EU environmental legislation for the countries of enlargement, reinforcement of the strategy of sustainable development, prevention of disasters, new policy for chemical products, obligation of Environmental Impact Evaluation – EIE), the Executive opened a judicial procedure against eight member states for violations of the directive that makes EIE compulsory for public and private projects. After numerous notifications inviting respect for EU provisions on air quality, climate change and protection of the ozone stratum in the atmosphere, the States in question – Austria, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, UK and Spain have now been summoned to appear before the Court of Justice. In particular, Italy will have to answer to the Court for failing to apply EIE legislation to the project for the port of Fossacesia, in the province of Chieti.
