Judgment of the Court (Eighth Chamber) of 14 April 2011 – Commission v Spain

(Case C-343/10)

Failure of a Member State to fulfil obligations – Directive 91/271/EEC – Pollution and nuisances – Treatment of urban waste water – Articles 3 and 4

Actions for failure to fulfil obligations – Examination of the merits by the Court – Situation to be taken into consideration – Situation on expiry of the period laid down in the reasoned opinion (Art. 258 TFEU; Council Directive 91/271, Arts 3 and 4) (see paras 54, 64)

Re:

Failure of a Member State to fulfil obligations – Infringement of Articles 3 and 4 of Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste water treatment (OJ L 135, p. 40).

Operative part

The Court:

1. Declares that, by failing to ensure that:

–        urban waste water from the agglomerations with a population equivalent of more than 15 000 of Valle de Güimar, Noreste (Valle Guerra), Valle de la Orotava, Arenys de Mar, Alcossebre and Cariño is collected in accordance with Article 3 of Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste water treatment, and

–        urban waste water from the agglomerations with a population equivalent of more than 15 000 of Arroyo de la Miel, Arroyo de la Víbora, Estepota (San Pedro de Alcántara), Alhaurín el Grande, Coín, Barbate, Chipiona, Isla Cristina, Matalascañas, Nerja, Tarifa, Torrox Costa, Vejer de la Frontera, Gijón-Este, Llanes, Valles de Güimar, Noreste (Valle Guerra), Los Llanos de Aridane, Arenys de Mar, Pineda de Mar, Ceuta, Alcossebre, Benicarló, Elx (Arenales), Peñíscola, Teulada Moraira (Rada Moraira), Vinaròs, A Coruña, Cariño, Tui, Vigo, Aguiño-Carreira-Ribeira, Baiona, Noia, Santiago, Viveiro and Irán (Hondarribia) is treated in accordance with Article 4(1), (3) and, where applicable (4), of Directive 91/271,

the Kingdom of Spain has failed to fulfil its obligations under those provisions of Directive 91/271/EEC;

2. 2. Orders the Kingdom of Spain to pay the costs.