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EU Executive Slams France Over Environmental Law |
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| BELGIUM: January 13, 2005 | ||
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BRUSSELS - France came under fire from the European Commission on Wednesday for failing to heed rulings from Europe's top court in six cases on environmental law.
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The EU's executive arm said it would take further action against France for failing to implement EU rules on nature conservation, public access to environmental information, water protection, and genetically modified micro-organisms. France could incur fines if it does not adjust national laws and practices after judgments by the European Court of Justice called for it to do so, it said. "I am concerned at the high number of court judgments that have not been respected by France," said Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas in a statement. "Acting on court judgments quickly and effectively is vital not only for the environment but also to demonstrate that member states take their European commitments seriously." The French government said it was aware of its delay in implementing the European directives and said it had made it a priority since 2002 to catch-up on the delay. "France is making significant efforts to completely implement the directives in question," the French Environment Ministry said in a statement. "Consequently, France should not be condemned by the European Court of Justice on the texts evoked in the Commission's statement because (France will achieve) the demanded conformity very quickly," it said.
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REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
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