site.btaEC Refers Bulgaria and Romania to Court of Justice for Discharge of Waste Water in Environment without Treatment

In its regular package of infringement decisions in November, the European Commission says it is referring Bulgaria and Romania to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failure to adequately collect and treat urban waste water, before discharging it into the environment. 

The case is being sent to court for the failure of the two countries to fully comply with the collection and treatment obligations set in the urban waste water treatment directive (Directive 91/271/EEC). The Directive requires that urban waste water is collected and treated before discharge into the environment. Towns and cities (agglomerations) need to put in place the necessary infrastructure to collect and treat their urban waste water.

The Commission sent a letter of formal notice to Bulgaria in July 2017, followed by a reasoned opinion in May 2020.

The Commission considers that efforts by the Bulgarian and Romanian authorities have, to date, been insufficient and is therefore referring Bulgaria and Romania to the Court of Justice of the European Union.