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Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-04-27
CONTENTS
[01] Dimas hails 'environmental liability Directive'
[01] Dimas hails 'environmental liability Directive'
EU Commissioner Stavros Dimas on Friday welcomed a same-day decision by
the European Commission to issue a new directive instituting the
"polluter pays principle".
The Directive envisions, according to a Commission press release, that
"future environmental damage in the EU is prevented or remedied, and
that those who cause it are held responsible."
Member-states are required to transpose the directive into their
national law by April 30, 2007, with only Italy, Latvia and Lithuania
having already made the deadline.
In a statement, EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said: "The
idea that the polluter must pay is a cornerstone of EU policy and with
this legislation we are putting it into practice. The environmental
liability directive will provide a strong incentive to prevent damage
from happening at all, and enables governments to seek redress from the
culprit when serious damage does occur. I am very concerned that only
three member-states have transposed this vital legislation so far. If
the others do not follow suit very soon the Commission will have to
consider starting legal action."
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