BELGIAN IMPLEMENTATION OF WATER POLLUTION DIRECTIVE UNSATISFACTORY.(European Union Court of Justice ruling)

Europe Environment, February, 1999

In a ruling passed down on January 21 (case No C-207/97), the European Union Court of Justice has condemned Belgium for failing to implement Directive 76/464/EEC on pollution caused by certain dangerous substances discharged into the aquatic environment. Referring the case before the Court in May 1997, the European Commission accused the Belgian authorities of failing to adopt pollution reduction programmes outlining specific water quality targets, notably for 99 substances listed in an Annex to the Directive. Belgium also stood accused of failing to comply with Article 7 of the Directive, requiring Member States to send the Commission information regarding programmes and application results.

Directive 76/464 of May 4, 1976 provides for the implementation of...

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