EC refers Bulgaria to court over failure to transpose Renewable Energy Directive

The European Commission on January 26 referred Bulgaria and Slovakia to the European Court of Justice for failing to transpose the Renewable Energy Directive into national legislation, with a request to impose financial penalties on the two countries. Member states were required to transpose the Directive by 30 June 2021. Only Bulgaria and Slovakia have not taken measures to do so.

The EC reminds that renewable energy 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, cooling and transport sectors in the EU in the current decade.

It sets an EU-level binding target for 2030 of at least 32% renewable energy and includes measures to ensure support for renewable energy is cost-effective, and to simplify administrative procedures for renewable energy projects. It also facilitates the participation of citizens in the energy transition by enabling self-consumption and the setup of renewable energy communities.

In addition, it sets specific targets to increase the share of renewables in the heating and cooling and transport sectors by 2030, where the progress of renewables has been slower than in the electricity sector. Furthermore, it strengthens criteria to ensure the sustainability of bioenergy.

EC is also taking Bulgaria to court over the invasive alien species regulation

The European Commission has today also taken action against Bulgaria, Ireland, Greece, Italy, Latvia and Portugal for non-implementation of the Invasive Alien Species Regulation. Invasive alien species are plants and animals that are accidentally or deliberately introduced into a region where they are not normally found.

The Commission decided today to refer Bulgaria, Ireland, Greece, Italy, Latvia, and Portugal to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to implement various provisions of Regulation 1143/2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species (the ‘Invasive Alien Species' or ‘IAS Regulation'). Invasive alien species are plants and animals which are accidentally or deliberately introduced to an area where they are not normally found.

The IAS Regulation includes measures to be taken across the EU in relation to invasive alien species that are of concern for the EU. The six Member States did not establish, implement and communicate to the Commission an action plan (or a set of action plans) to address the most important pathways of introduction and spread of these invasive alien species. In addition, Bulgaria and Greece have not yet established a surveillance system of invasive alien species of Union concern, or included it in their existing system, although the deadline for this was January 2018.

Invasive alien species often have significant economic impacts, reducing yields from agriculture, forestry and fisheries. For example, the American comb jelly which was introduced accidentally into the Black Sea was responsible for a sharp decrease in no less than 26 commercial Black Sea fish stocks, including anchovy and chub mackerel. Invasive species can damage infrastructure, obstruct transportation or decrease water availability by blocking waterways or clogging industrial water pipes.

Invasive alien species can also be a major problem for human health, triggering serious allergies and skin problems (e.g. burns caused by the giant hogweed) and acting as vectors for dangerous pathogens and diseases (e.g. transmission of disease to animals and humans by raccoons).

EC launches infringement procedure against Bulgaria over fuel compensation scheme

The European Commission today launched infringement proceedings against Bulgaria for introducing measures contrary to internal market rules.

Bulgaria has introduced a compensation scheme which reduces the end price of fuel only for owners of vehicles registered in the country. The scheme provided that users of vehicles, motorcycles and motorbikes registered in Bulgaria would be entitled to lower fuel prices. The compensation led to a reduction in fuel price by BGN 0.25 per litre.

The reduction does not apply to vehicles not registered in Bulgaria, the EC reports. This measure is therefore highly discriminatory and disproportionate.

In this respect, the Commission asks the Bulgarian authorities to respect the principles of free movement of goods, free movement of citizens and workers, non-discrimination against EU citizens and the notification rules under the Single Market Transparency Directive communication said..

Unilateral action at 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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