European Commission sues Portugal over failure to combat industrial pollution

The European Commission is suing Portugal in the EU Court of Justice for its failure to address pollution from industrial activities.

The Commission claims that Portugal has not fully aligned its national legislation with the European Industrial Emissions Directive (Directive 2010/75/EU), which sets rules aimed at reducing emissions into air, water, and land, and preventing waste generation, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Specifically, the Commission highlights that Portugal has not adequately defined "dangerous substances" and "existing installations" in its laws. 

Additionally, the responsibilities of industrial operators and authorities in managing incidents or accidents are unclear.

This infringement procedure was initiated in 2022, and the Commission believes that Portugal's efforts to comply have been insufficient, leading to its decision to escalate the matter to the Court of Justice.

Furthermore, the Commission has issued a formal notice to Lisbon regarding non-compliance with the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (Directive 91/271/EEC). This directive mandates that urban wastewater must be collected and treated before being released into the environment. Currently, in 20 areas in Portugal, wastewater is not adequately treated prior to discharge, and three areas are discharging into sensitive regions without the necessary treatment standards.