Home / Environment / Portugal Fined €10M for EU Biodiversity Law Breach
Portugal Fined €10M for EU Biodiversity Law Breach
5 Mar
Summary
- Portugal faces a €10 million fine for environmental law violations.
- Daily penalties of €41,250 accrue until compliance is achieved.
- Biodiversity richness in Portugal is critical to the EU's heritage.
The European Union's court of justice has imposed a significant €10 million fine on Portugal for persistent and serious infringements of EU environmental law. This ruling addresses Portugal's failure to adequately protect biodiversity, a critical issue given the country's rich natural heritage.
Portugal is also subject to a substantial daily penalty of €41,250, which will continue until the nation fully complies with a 2019 court order. This financial pressure is intended to ensure swift action to designate and protect vital conservation sites under the EU habitats directive.
The court highlighted that Portugal's territory hosts numerous habitat types and species crucial to the European Union's common heritage. The infringements are considered particularly serious due to their duration and the potential impact on EU biodiversity. Specific sites like Peneda-Gerês National Park and Valongo are mentioned as being among those requiring protection.
This legal action stems from the European Commission's years-long efforts to compel Portugal to conserve habitats and species as mandated by EU law. A 2019 ruling found Portugal had failed to designate 61 areas as special areas of conservation within the required six-year timeframe.
