Budget law of 2023
Italy asks the EU Commission for more time to respond to the letter of formal notice. Infringement pending for breaches of European wildlife and chemical regulations. According to the European Commission, the extraordinary plan for the management and wildlife containment, foreseen by the budget law for the year 2023, would not be compliant with the legal regime of abatements provided for by EU legislation. This was confirmed by the Minister of the Environment Gilberto Pichetto Fratin who reported Italy's position at question time.
Discussions in progress
“The conflicting positions - explained the Minister - could be overcome by making EU directives explicit in national legislation, in order to ensure that the plan mentioned, essentially aimed at more effective control of wild fauna, is not presumed to be in conflict with the provisions relating to the conservation of natural and semi-natural habitats and wild flora and fauna, as well as those concerning the conservation of wild birds, directive no. 92/43/EEC". Prompted on the topic by a question from MP Alessandro Caramiello (M5S), the Minister announced that "interlocutions are underway with other interested ministries to quickly reach a concerted solution". However, Italy will not be able to propose corrective measures for another month.
Failure to comply with the Birds Directive
The infringement procedure – On 7 February 2024, the European Commission sent the Italian Government a letter of formal notice for non-compliance with the Birds Directive (2009/409/EC) and the Reach Regulation (1907/2006/EC) for the reduction of chemicals. Brussels contests Italy's notion of "wetlands" on the national territory (marshes, marshes, peat bogs and natural or artificial bodies of water) which require particular protection due to the richness of biodiversity. The Commission also contests a "non-dissuasive" sanctioning framework for the use of ammunition containing lead, a substance which since 2016 has been subject to restrictions and maximum thresholds that cannot be exceeded for the protection of health and the environment. To resolve the issue, the Ministry of the Environment has started a discussion table with the Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Ispra, and the Forestry, Environmental and Agri-Food Unit Command (CUFAA), with the participation of the Ministry of agriculture, of Masaf.
Italy asks for more time
By April 7, Italy should have responded to the objections of the European Commission, but Italy needs more time: Minister Fratin reported that he had asked for "an extension of at least one month for sending the requested observations and counterarguments by the Commission". At the end of the work, Italy "will be able to provide useful indications also in view of the definition of possible regulatory proposals aimed at overcoming the findings formulated". In response, the questioner Hon Caramiello declared himself "dissatisfied" with the Minister's response. (Source ANMVI).
You May Also Like ..
