The European Commission has initiated two new infringement procedures against Austria. On the one hand, the government in Vienna has not correctly implemented the Waste Framework Directive and on the other hand the regulations surrounding the Common European Railway Area, complains Brussels.
The deadline for Member States to transpose the directive into national law passed on July 5, 2020. However, the Member States concerned have not yet properly implemented it. The Commission has therefore sent letters of formal notice to Austria and five other EU Member States.
Two months for an answer
According to the Commission, national rail transport rules in Austria and Hungary are not in line with the directive on the creation of a uniform European railway area. The Commission also considers that Austrian law limits the scope of infrastructure management functions that can be shared between different infrastructure managers.
Member States each have two months to respond to the letters of formal notice and correct the shortcomings identified by the Commission. If no satisfactory response is received, the Commission may send them a reasoned opinion. This is the next step in the infringement procedure.
More failures
The Brussels authority will now send two such declarations to Vienna due to the poor implementation of the Representative Action Directive and EU regulations to reduce air pollution. Austria has failed to communicate to Brussels national measures to fully and timely implement the Representative Actions Directive. Moreover, there was no proper implementation of the reduction obligations for various air pollutants.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
