Romania is facing a case in the Court of Justice of the European Union (EU) for its failure to comply with the EU’s Waste Framework Directive.
The country has yet to comply with a 2013 deadline reviewing and adopting a national waste management plan and waste prevention program, according to an European Commission (EC) press release.
The EU’s Waste Framework Directive was adopted to reduce the impact of resource use and improve resource use efficiency. Member states were given until December 2010 to adopt waste management plans and until December 2013 to adopt waste prevention programs. They are required to review and update those plans every six years.
Romania, which has a landfilling rate nearly 50 percent higher than the rest of the EU, has yet to review and revise its waste management plan and waste prevention program. The EC has taken several steps to urge compliance from the state.
Formal action began in September 2015, with the initiation of the infringement procedure. In May 2016, the commission sent Romania a reasoned opinion, and following further inaction, the EC is taking Romania to court.
The commission is also handling infringement cases against Belgium, Cyprus, Croatia, Italy, France, Spain and Slovenia.
