EU Commission Warns 11 Countries Over Beaches
Date: 10-Apr-06
Country: BELGIUM
Last year, the EU overhauled a bathing water directive, telling member states they had to be more careful monitoring the quality of waters and keeping them free of pollution.
But it said in a statement late on Thursday it was concerned that some member states had opted to close sites instead of cleaning them up, adding that Germany and the Netherlands were the worst offenders.
The European Court of Justice, Europe's top court, said countries must justify the delisting of bathing sites.
The Commission has sent a first written warning to the 11 member states asking them to justify the cancellations, a first step towards possible legal action.
