Brussels: The European Commission has decided to refer Cyprus to the Court of Justice of the EU for a second time for failing to comply with an earlier decision on the landfills in Vati and Kotsiatis, asking for the imposition of fines. The Commission announced its decision in the context of May’s regular infringement package.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the Commission is sending Cyprus to the CoJ for failing to comply with the Landfill Directive (Directive 1999/31/EC) and the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union of 18 July 2013 (C-412/12).
The Landfill Directive sets requirements for landfills to prevent adverse effects on human health, water, soil, and air. In 2013, the Court ruled that the landfill of Vati in Limassol and the landfill of Kotsiatis in Nicosia did not comply with the Landfill Directive.
The Commission points out that landfilling can have dangerous effects on human health and on the environment, through the contamination of the groundwater and the production of methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas. In addition, where recyclable waste is landfilled, materials are unnecessarily lost from Europe’s economy.
Following the judgment of the CoJ, the Commission sent a letter of formal notice under Article 260 TFEU to Cyprus on 28 April 2017. Cyprus then finally decided to stop the operation of these two landfills.
However, although no waste has been sent to these landfills for more than six years, they have still not been rehabilitated and closed as required by the Landfill Directive. In addition, Cyprus has postponed the timetable for the implementation of the judgment several times.
Therefore, as the landfills still present a danger for human health and the environment, the Commission has decided to refer this case back to the Court of Justice of the European Union, requesting the imposition of financial sanctions.