Answer given by Mr Vella on behalf of the Commission

25.2.2016

As mentioned in the question, on 10 December 2015 the Commission decided to refer Greece to the Court of Justice of the European Union as it believes that the Temploni landfill has been operating in breach of the EU waste and landfill legislation[1]. The shortcomings include improper management of biogas, missing treatment of liquid draining from the landfill (leachates), and the presence of waste which the site is not permitted to treat. These shortcomings could affect human health in various ways, for instance via air or water pollution.

The Commission uses all the powers it has to enforce correct implementation of EU legislation. In this case, as progress towards compliance with the above legislation was deemed unsatisfactory, it considered that there was no other option than to refer Greece to the Court.

For the sanitary landfill in Temploni (Corfu), the total public support amounts to approximately EUR 10 million out of which EUR 8 million have been granted by national and EU programmes in 2007-2013 as well as in previous programming periods. The third cell of the sanitary landfill, which has been co-financed in the framework of the regional ‘West Greece, Peloponnesus & Ionian Islands 2007-2013’ programme, needs to be completed with the acquisition, installation and operation of the biological treatment equipment. As the eligibility period for 2007-2013 programmes expired on 31 December 2015 the completion of this project must be done with national funds and no later than the submission of the closure documents of the regional programme, i.e. by March 2017.

• [1] Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, and Council Directive 1999/31/EC.