UUP MEP comments on European Commission Legal Proceedings against the UK Government
The European Commission has announced today that it is taking legal action against the United Kingdom for not complying fully with judgements issued by the European Court of Justice in two separate cases.
One of those cases involves the Treatment of urban waste water in seven UK towns, four of which are in Northern Ireland. The European Commission has accused the UK of failing to fully abide by a European Court of Justice January 2007 ruling on the Urban Wastewater Directive.
Portrush, Coleraine, Bangor and Donaghadee have all been highlighted by the European Commission for failing to comply with the Directive.
The European Commission has initiated the first part of formal legal proceedings against the UK Government by sending the UK a first written warning.
Commenting on the Commission’s decision to initiate legal proceedings against the UK Government, Ulster Unionist Member of the European Parliament Jim Nicholson MEP said that the situation was indicative of the problems facing the new Executive at Stormont in the area of waste management.
Speaking from Brussels Mr Nicholson said,
“Clearly today’s decision is not good news for Northern Ireland and I would urge the Executive to move urgently to address the problems highlighted by the European Commission.
“The problems with our sewage system and wastewater infrastructure can be attributed to thirty years of neglect by successive Direct Rule administrations and to the Troubles. Over the years when we should have been investing in upgrading our sewage infrastructure the Government was instead putting money into rebuilding our towns and villages, many of which were blown apart by terrorist violence.
“This situation also serves to highlight why the Northern Ireland Executive should be seeking to obtain further financial assistance from Brussels.”