Ireland referred to CJEU over river basins
The European Commission has referred Ireland to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) for failing to finalise plans for the management of river basins.
The plans are required under the EU’s Water Framework Directive. Ireland is one of five EU members covered by the commission’s action.
The directive aims to reduce and remove pollution from European rivers and lakes, as well as ensure that there is enough water to support human needs and wildlife.
Efforts ‘insufficient’
Under the measure, EU members must update and report their river-basin management plans every six years.
The commission had sent reasoned opinions last September to all countries that had failed to update their plans.
It said, however, that efforts by the authorities in five countries “have, to date, been insufficient”.