How many cases of infractions against EU environmental law has Italy racked up?
Hundreds of them. Not only are EU environmental directives not implemented in Italy, the government is now decriminalizing and issuing pardons for many crimes. This is really bad. Q: Is the EU concerned about the 300,000 tons of highly toxic waste that government officials in Italy say “goes missing” every year into the hands of the eco-mafia? A: We are very concerned, but the problem is the Commission has no police force. We rely completely on national law enforcement. The environmental unit of national police forces is often the weakest and worst- equipped. The priority given on a national level to fighting eco-crimes is very low. EU legislation often requires countries to reach a certain goal within three to four years, such as conditions regarding landfill sites or numbers of waste incinerators. Ultimately, if the requirements are not met, the EU can take a country to court. But it’s a slow process. The Council did agree in Tampere that the EU has to become active in the area of ec
