EC begins infringement procedure against Romania for failing to meet waste recycling targets

The European Commission (EC) said on November 16 that it decided to initiate infringement procedures against Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, and Austria for failing to meet legally binding targets for recycling municipal waste for reuse.

The targets are set by Directive 2008/98/EC and amended by Directive 2018/851/EU. The EC also requires member states to improve their waste management systems and resource use efficiency.

The deadline for transposing the provisions of the Directive into national law by member states expired on July 5, 2020, according to News.ro.

Through its monthly package of infringement decisions, the European Commission seeks to take Member States that have not fulfilled their obligations under EU law to court. These decisions, which concern various sectors and policy areas of the EU, aim to ensure the proper application of EU law for the benefit of citizens and businesses.