EC takes Bulgaria and Romania to court over wastewater directive

The European Commission is taking Bulgaria and Romania to the European Court of Justice for failing to fully comply with wastewater collection and treatment obligations.

Both countries have received substantial EU funding under the cohesion policy, although compliance with the directive is primarily the responsibility of national authorities, according to the letter of formal notice.

European rules require urban waste water to be collected and treated before it is discharged into the environment, otherwise it can endanger human health and pollute lakes, rivers, soil, coastal and groundwater, according to the Commission's reasoning.

Bulgaria has also failed to submit a final updated national energy and climate change plan. The country has not informed the Commission of its progress in fully transposing the European Union (EU) Motor Insurance Directive into national law.