EU increases pressure on Romania over F-gas penalties
12th February 2020
EUROPE: The European Commission has stepped up the pressure on Romania for failing to adopt penalties for breaches of the F-gas regulation 517/2014.
The Commission sent letters of formal notice to Italy and Romania in July 2019 for failing to notify national measures on penalties for infringements of the F-gas regulations. Under the rules adopted by member states under the F-gas regulations (517/2014), penalties should have been in place by 1 January 2017.
Following the formal notice, Italy subsequently implemented fines of up to €100,000 for a range of breaches of the regulation, but Romania is yet to do so. As a result, the Commission has moved to the second step in the infringement procedure with a reasoned opinion – a formal request to comply with EU law. Romania has two months from receipt of the reasoned opinion to communicate such measures to the Commission. If it still doesn’t comply, the Commission may decide to refer the matter to the European Court of Justice.
Under the rules adopted by EU member states, the penalties must be “effective, proportionate and dissuasive”.
Related stories:
Italy sets fines up to €100k for F-gas violations – 3 January 2020
ITALY: The Italian government has announced fines of up to €100,000 for breaches of the European F-gas regulations (517/2014). Read more…
Italy and Romania face F-gas infringement procedures – 25 July 2019
EUROPE: The European Commission has sent letters of formal notice to Italy and Romania for failing to notify national measures on penalties for infringements of the F-gas regulations. Read more…
