EU Regulations

Tuesday, 28 April 2026

Questions (288)

Carol Nolan

Question:

288. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide details on all open EU infringement proceedings where the subject of the infringement relates to the functions of his Department; the reason the infringement proceedings were initiated; the procedural stage of the infringement proceedings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30262/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment

Where a Member State fails to fulfil their Treaty obligations, either by lack of transposition, incomplete transposition, or the incorrect application of EU law, the Commission may initiate an infringement procedure under Article 258 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

The infringement procedure follows a structured sequence:

• the Commission issues a letter of formal notice, providing the Member State an opportunity to submit observations;

• if the matter remains unresolved, the Commission delivers a reasoned opinion specifying the breach and demanding compliance within a defined period;

• should the Member State fail to comply, the Commission may refer the matter to the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Infringement procedures carry significant implications beyond purely legal consequences. They may generate political sensitivities, impose reputational costs, and in cases reaching the Court of Justice, result in substantial financial penalties through lump sum payments and daily penalty payments.

Please see the attached file for details of my Department's current infringements.

Number	Title	Stage
2012/4028	Directive 2003/35/EC with regard to public participation and access to justice	Letter of Formal Notice
2018/2030	Council Directive 2011/70 safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste	Reasoned Opinion
2019/4007	Directive 2011/92/EU on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment	Reasoned Opinion
2022/2073	Directive (EU) 2016/2284 on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants	Reasoned Opinion
2024/0231	Directive 2023/2413 as regards the promotion of energy from renewable sources (RED III).	Reasoned Opinion
2024/2130	Directive 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).	Letter of Formal Notice
2025/0146	Directive (EU) 2024/1711 as regards improving the Union’s electricity market design.	Letter of Formal Notice
2025/2005	Directive 1999/31/EC ('the Landfill Directive')	Letter of Formal Notice
2025/0226	Directive 2023/2413 as regards the promotion of energy from renewable sources (RED III).	Letter of Formal Notice
2025/0332	Directive (EU) 2023/1791 on energy efficiency and amending Regulation (EU) 2023/955	Letter of Formal Notice
2025/2231	The Energy Charter Treaty	Letter of Formal Notice