The European Commission is referring Cyprus to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for failing to take measures to ensure serious breaches of EU environmental law be considered criminal offences and punished accordingly.
The country has yet to adopt measures necessary to implement Directive 2008/99/EC on the protection of environment through criminal law in national law. As such, the Commission will ask the Court to impose a daily penalty payment of €5909.40 until the adoption of all necessary national measures for a complete transposition.
Georgios Perdikis from the Cyprus Green Party expressed his sorrow on this latest development.
In his statements in front of the Cypriot Parliament, G. Perdikis reminded parliament members that this punishment is the third suspension of Cyprus in the European Court of Justice in such a short period. A while ago, Cyprus was once again referred to the ECU for its failure to effectively protect the grass snake natrix-natrix and only a few weeks back it was referred for its non-compliance with EU regulations on landfills.
The MP explained that despite the fact that the Cypriot government finally passed the appropriate law – rather retrospectively – it is unlikely that Cyprus “avoids conviction”.
Giorgos Perdikis also referred to a number of other issues that will once again lead Cyprus to the ECJ, expressing his sorrow for “this situation that exposes Cyprus and might finally impose high penalties” that the Cypriot people will have to pay in the end.
“The Cypriot government should realize that the environment is not an unimportant issue, for which only a few ‘Green’ people care” he added.
(Source: www.kathimerini.com.cy )
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
