Court of Justice strengthens enforcement of Community Law

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 13th Sep 2005

Commenting on today's landmark ruling by the Court of Justice on the powers of the European Commission to require Member States to enforce environmental protection laws, Liberal Democrat European Environment Spokesperson, Chris Davies MEP said:

"This is very good news for Europe's environment and ensuring that all Member States are obliged to live up to their commitments. It is unacceptable for some EU states to avoid implementing measures they have all agreed to in order to gain a competitive advantage over their partners. Environmental protection rules must be applied equally and effectively across Europe to safeguard the heritage of future generations."

"Europe needs an umpire to ensure fair play between member states and to dismiss the cheats. The European Commission is the only body that comes close to fitting that role and this Court ruling gives it more teeth with which to bite."

Graham Watson, leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe in the European Parliament also drew further encouragement for European law making and democratic accountability in other areas:

"The Court's ruling also sets a positive precedent for the Justice and Home Affairs field where the Parliament is currently being sidelined by 3rd pillar initiatives denying it equal legislative rights. The Court has drawn attention to the fact that such intergovernmental methods also lack enforceability as well as the accountability to a democratic body. Europe must ensure, now more than ever, that proposed new laws are not only made in public but are effectively enforced once agreed upon. "

"Today's Court judgement, annulling a Council Framework Decision in the field of the environment (2003/80) will have far-reaching implications for European jurisprudence and may well force Member States to pay more attention to what they agree to in Council, especially when it is not subject to democratic scrutiny," concluded Watson.