Brussels goes into infringement mode over Austria’s failure to adopt waste, rail rules

1 year ago 37

The European Commission launched infringement proceedings against Austria on Thursday for failing to comply with new EU rules on waste and railway standardisation.

The European Commission has decided to launch infringement proceedings against several EU countries, including Austria, for failing to adopt the new Waste Framework Directive by the 2020 deadline. Infringement procedures are the ultimate tool in the Commission’s arsenal to ensure compliance with EU law and can even result in daily fines.

“Shortcomings in Austria concern the end of waste status, the calculation of the recycling and ‘preparing for reuse’ targets, the ban on mixing hazardous waste, and the waste management plan,” the Commission said.

Alongside Hungary, Austria is also pressured to adopt new EU rules establishing a single European railway area.

In both instances, the Commission’s actions represent the process’s first steps.

Should Austria’s response be deemed unsatisfactory, the Commission will issue a “reasoned opinion” before taking a country to court. If Austria loses the case, the Commission will ask the court to impose fines.

On air pollution, Vienna has received one such reasoned opinion for failing to meet its reduction targets alongside eight other EU countries.

The same goes for the Aarhus Convention on citizens’ rights to the environment and legal recourse, with the European Commission saying Austria “still does not ensure the right of the public to a judicial review of all relevant acts or omissions within the scope of EU environmental law.”

Austria has two months to respond before the Commission takes the matter to court.

(Nikolaus J. Kurmayer | Euractiv.de)