Commission sues Member States on enforcement of environmental rules 

Environmental impact assessment (EIA): The Commission is taking legal action against Belgium, Itlay, Spain and the UK for failing to implement this directive (97/11/EC) which requires Member States to assess the environmental impact of major public works and urban projects. The directive was last amended in 1997 and was due to be transposed into national law by March 1999.

Water policy: Greece, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Germany and Ireland were all sent final warning letters for failure to implement directives relating to the preservation of water quality. France and Portugal are at the next stage of the procedure and will have to defend their cases before the European Court of Justice (ECJ).