Question for written answer  E-002404/2025/rev.1
to the Commission
Rule 144
Nikolaos Anadiotis (NI)

In recent years, there have been repeated and serious reports of environmental degradation in Greece, mainly due to the continued operation of illegal landfills and the uncontrolled dumping of waste. A typical example is that of Mount Aigaleo in Western Athens[1], an area of natural beauty, which is gradually becoming an uncontrolled landfill site, which entails underlying risks of fires, soil and air pollution, as well as risks to public health.

Despite the clear obligations of Member States[2] set out in EU environmental legislation[3], their implementation remains fragmented and insufficient. Greece has already been asked by the CJEU[4] to pay significant fines for failing to rehabilitate illegal landfills, with there now being more than 127 active or semi-inactive such landfills, according to recent reports.

In light of the above, can the Commission say:

How does it ensure the full and consistent application of EU environmental law in cases of systematic inaction by national authorities, within the meaning of Article 17 of Directive 2008/98/EC and Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 respectively, which concern the protection of the environment and human health and the enforcement of EU legislation, harmonisation and compliance?

Submitted: 14.6.2025

Last updated: 7 July 2025