The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled on Thursday, October 18, that Romania failed to comply with the Directive 1999/31/CE on landfills. A total of 68 illegal landfills are still open in Romania although the country should have had them closed and rehabilitated by mid-July 2009.

Romania will have to pay the court costs, according to the same judgment.

The European Commission decided to take Romania to the EU Court of Justice in February last year, saying the local authorities have failed to close and rehabilitate the 68 illegal landfills, “which represent a serious risk for human health and the environment.”

In September 2015, the EC urged the Romanian authorities to adequately deal with 109 uncontrolled sites that, although not in operation, were still posing a threat to human health and the environment. Romania made some progress but, for 68 landfills, the necessary measures were still not completed by December 2016.

Irina Marica, irina.marica@romania-insider.com