IP/00/344 - Brussels, 7 April 2000 

European Commission again takes action against Italy, Ireland, Spain and France for failure to supply environmental information.

The European Commission has decided to send warning letters to Italy, Ireland, Spain and France for their failure to respond to Commission requests for environmental information. Article 10 of the treaty requires Member States to actively co-operate with the Commission in dealing with complaints. The decision reflects the Commission's concern that, in the cases concerned, it is not receiving the usual degree of co-operation it expects from Member States. 

Commenting on the decisions, Environment commissioner Margot Wallstrom, said:  "In order to efficiently process environmental complaints, the Commission needs to have prompt Member State answers to its letters. It is therefore very disappointing to have to resort to legal action just to obtain answers."  Commission rules provide for the systematic registration and examination by the  Commission of complaints concerning possible breaches of European Union (EU) law.  Environmental complaints represent a large share of the total number of complaints received annually by the Commission.