The European Commission filed a lawsuit against Bulgaria and Slovakia before the Court of Justice of the European Union because they did not transpose the Renewable Energy Directive into their national legislation. The EC wants the imposition of financial sanctions on both countries.
Member States had to transpose the directive by June 30, 2021. Only Bulgaria and Slovakia have not taken measures for this.
The EC reminds that energy from renewable sources is a key element of the European Green Deal and a central pillar of the REPowerEU plan. The Renewable Energy Directive, adopted in 2018, provides the legal framework for the development of renewable energy in the electricity, heating and cooling and transport sectors in the EU in the current decade.
It sets a binding EU-wide target of at least 32% of energy produced from renewable sources in 2030 and contains measures to ensure that support for renewable energy is cost-effective and to administrative procedures for renewable energy projects are simplified. It also facilitates citizens’ participation in the energy transition by enabling self-consumption and the creation of renewable energy communities.
It also sets specific targets to increase the share of renewables in the heating and cooling and transport sectors by 2030, where progress in renewables is slower than in the electricity sector. The directive also strengthens the criteria for ensuring the sustainability of bioenergy.
The EC is also filing a lawsuit against Bulgaria because of the regulation on invasive alien species
The European Commission filed a lawsuit today against Bulgaria, Ireland, Greece, Italy, Latvia and Portugal also for non-application of the Invasive Alien Species Regulation. Invasive alien species are plants and animals that are accidentally or intentionally introduced into a region where they are not normally found.
They are one of the five main causes of biodiversity loss in Europe and worldwide. Estimates indicate that invasive species cause damage to the European economy of 12 billion euros per year. Tackling this problem is an important aspect of the EU’s goal of halting biodiversity loss.
The Invasive Alien Species Regulation provides for measures to be taken throughout the EU in relation to invasive alien species that affect the Union. The six Member States mentioned have not drawn up, implemented and submitted to the Commission an action plan (or set of action plans) to cross the most important routes of entry and spread of these species. In addition, Bulgaria and Greece have not yet established a system for monitoring invasive alien species of concern to the Union, nor have they incorporated it into an existing system, although the deadline for this requirement expired in January 2018.
In many cases, invasive alien species have a significant economic impact, leading to reduced yields from agriculture, forestry and fisheries. For example, the scallop jellyfish accidentally introduced into the Black Sea has caused a sharp decline in at least 26 economically important fish stocks in that water basin, including stocks of anchovy and Atlantic-Mediterranean mackerel. Invasive species can damage infrastructure, impede transportation, or reduce water availability by blocking waterways or clogging industrial water pipes.
Invasive alien species can also be a serious problem for human health, causing severe allergies and skin problems (e.g. burns caused by giant heracleum) and acting as vectors of dangerous pathogens and diseases (e.g. transmission of diseases to animals and humans from raccoons).
The EC starts criminal proceedings against Bulgaria because of the fuel compensation scheme
The European Commission is today launching infringement proceedings against Bulgaria for having introduced measures that contradict the internal market regulations.
Bulgaria has introduced a fuel compensation scheme that results in a lower fuel price only for owners of vehicles registered in Bulgaria. According to the scheme, users of passenger cars, motorcycles and mopeds registered in Bulgaria are entitled to lower official fuel prices.
The compensation is provided by reducing the amount owed by the individual for payment to the final distributor in the amount of BGN 0.25 (EUR 0.13) per liter/kilogram of fuel. However, the reduction does not apply to vehicles that are not registered in Bulgaria. This measure is therefore highly discriminatory and disproportionate.
In this regard, the Commission requests the Bulgarian authorities to comply with the principles of the free movement of goods, the free movement of citizens and workers, the non-discrimination of EU citizens, as well as the notification rules under the Transparency Directive within the single market.
Unilateral actions at the national level and the introduction of discriminatory treatment cannot be a solution. Bulgaria now has two months to respond to the concerns expressed by the Commission.
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