On February 22, 2018, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) condemned Greece for violating EU law in failing – for almost two decades – to take the necessary measures to properly treat urban wastewater in western Athens, which has led to the environmental degradation of the bay of Elefsina (full text of the decision here).
Previously, on June 24 2004, the CJEU had ruled that Greece had violated its obligations under EU law (specifically Directive 91/271/EEC) on the processing of urban wastewater in the Thriasio Field because the country had not taken measures to build an urban sewage network and did not subject wastewater to the necessary treatment. The wastewater was thus discharged into Elefsina Bay without prior treatment to protect the environment.
Greece was obliged to comply with the provisions of the Directive by the end of 1998, which they failed to do. The country subsequently failed to comply with the 2004 CJEU decision ruling, which had imposed a 2010 deadline for Greece to take compliance measures.The European Commission therefore brought a second infringement case before the Court requesting the imposition of financial sanctions against Greece.
The CJEU, in February 2018 thus found that Greece had indeed failed to fulfil its obligations as set out in the 2004 decision since the wastewater treatment plant was not completed until April 7, 2011 and the plant has been operating full time only since November 27, 2012. Furthermore, the secondary sewerage network has not yet been completed and almost half of the population of the area is not yet connected to the network.
In the 2018 ruling, the Court of Justice of the EU ordered Greece to pay a lump sum of five million euros to prevent the repetition of similar infringements of Union law in the future, as well as a six-monthly fine of €3.276 million per six-month delay of the implementation of the 2004 decision.
As an EU member state, Greece must comply with EU law.
However, in this case the country violated for a period of 20 years the European rules for the treatment of urban wastewater and the protection of the environment.
Bank Account number: 1100 0232 0016 560
IBAN: GR56 0140 1100 1100 0232 0016 560
BIC: CRBAGRAA
In a time where the very foundations of democracy are gradually being eroded by the rise of extreme nationalism, alt-right movements, the spread of disinformation and corporate capture, the efforts of organisations such as Vouliwatch are more relevant than ever.
We rely on the generosity of each and every one of you to continue with our efforts for more transparency and accounta
By financially supporting Vouliwatch you support our litigation strategy, our campaigns for transparency and accountability in the political system, the development of new civic tech tools, our research projects and last but not least our impartial and accurate
