Greece in trouble over green issues, again
Following last week’s two raps for violations of EU environmental rules, the European Commission has taken further action against Greece for failing to adequately protect important wetlands and a rare species of viper. Synaspismos Left Coalition Euro MP Michalis Papayiannakis said yesterday that, in response to questions he tabled in the European Parliament, the Commission has decided to take Greece to court for its inaction over the Mesolongi lagoon, Lake Koroneia and Macrovipera schweizeri, found on the islands of Milos, Kimolos and Sifnos. In the first two cases, Greece did not take legislative action to protect the wetlands – the polluted Lake Koroneia dried up last year – while failing to protect the snakes when hatching. Last week, the Commission took Greece to court for illegal waste disposal in eastern Attica, and threatened fines over the government’s failure to reduce water pollution.
