Reports of Cases

2010 I-01919

Subject-matter

Reference for a preliminary ruling – Tribunale amministrativo regionale della Sicilia (Italy) – Interpretation of Directive 2004/35/CE of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 on environmental liability with regard to the prevention and remedying of environmental damage (OJ 2004 L 142, p. 56) and the ‘polluter pays’ principle – National legislation which allows the authorities to require private undertakings to implement rehabilitation measures, irrespective of whether or not any investigation has been carried out to identify the party responsible for the pollution in question

Systematic classification scheme

Citations of case-law or legislation

References in grounds of judgment

• EC Treaty (Amsterdam), Article 174 : paragraphs 29, 45, 46
• EC Treaty (Amsterdam), Article 174 -P2L1 : paragraph 34
• EC Treaty (Amsterdam), Article 175 : paragraphs 45, 46, 55
• EC Treaty (Amsterdam), Article 176 : paragraph 68
• TFEU, Article 267 : paragraphs 42, 72
• Directive 89/665 : paragraph 29
• Directive 93/37 : paragraph 29
• Directive 96/61 -A01 : paragraph 14
• Directive 96/61 -N1PT2PT1 : paragraph 14
• Directive 96/61 -N1PT2PT4 : paragraph 14
• Directive 2004/18 : paragraphs 1, 29, 71
• Directive 2004/35 : paragraphs 1, 29, 34, 35, 44, 47, 55, 59, 70
• Directive 2004/35 -A02P1LA : paragraphs 61, 69
• Directive 2004/35 -A02P1LB : paragraphs 61, 69
• Directive 2004/35 -A02P1LC : paragraphs 61, 69
• Directive 2004/35 -A03P1 : paragraphs 4, 65, 70
• Directive 2004/35 -A03P1LB : paragraph 61
• Directive 2004/35 -A04P5 : paragraphs 5, 53, 54, 58, 65, 70
• Directive 2004/35 -A06 : paragraph 6
• Directive 2004/35 -A08 : paragraph 7
• Directive 2004/35 -A08P3 : paragraph 67
• Directive 2004/35 -A09 : paragraph 8
• Directive 2004/35 -A11 : paragraph 9
• Directive 2004/35 -A11P2 : paragraphs 53, 64, 65, 70
• Directive 2004/35 -A11P4 : paragraph 67
• Directive 2004/35 -A16 : paragraph 10
• Directive 2004/35 -A17 : paragraphs 11, 39
• Directive 2004/35 -A17T1 : paragraph 40
• Directive 2004/35 -A17T2 : paragraph 40
• Directive 2004/35 -A16P1 : paragraph 68
• Directive 2004/35 -A19P1L1 : paragraph 12
• Directive 2004/35 -N3 : paragraphs 61 - 63, 69, 70
• Directive 2004/35 -N3PT1 : paragraph 13
• Directive 2004/35 -C1 : paragraph 3
• Directive 2004/35 -C2 : paragraph 3
• Directive 2004/35 -C8 : paragraph 3
• Directive 2004/35 -C9 : paragraph 3
• Directive 2004/35 -C13 : paragraph 52
• Directive 2004/35 -C24 : paragraph 3
• Directive 2004/35 -C30 : paragraphs 3, 38
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -166/73 : paragraph 32
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -83/91 : paragraph 72
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -379/92 : paragraph 45
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -293/97 : paragraph 67
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -295/05 : paragraph 73
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -279/06 : paragraph 42
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -439/06 : paragraph 31
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -188/07 : paragraphs 57, 74
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -313/07 : paragraph 72
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -254/08 : paragraph 55

Operative part

• Interprets : Directive 2004/35
• Interprets : Directive 2004/35 -A03P1
• Interprets : Directive 2004/35 -A04P5
• Interprets : Directive 2004/35 -A11P2

Opinion

• EC Treaty (Amsterdam), Article 2 : point 112
  
• EC Treaty (Amsterdam), Article 174 : points 29, 44 - 46
  
• EC Treaty (Amsterdam), Article 174 -P1 : point 112
  
• EC Treaty (Amsterdam), Article 174 -P2 : points 8, 67, 84, 112
  
• EC Treaty (Amsterdam), Article 174 -P3 : point 124
  
• EC Treaty (Amsterdam), Article 175 : point 48
  
• EC Treaty (Amsterdam), Article 176 : points 48, 49, 51, 52, 97, 164
  
• EC Treaty (Amsterdam), Article 234 : points 37, 38, 41
  
• Directive 89/665 : point 29
  
• Directive 93/97 : point 29
  
• Directive 2004/18 : points 17, 29
  
• Directive 2004/35 : points 29, 77, 98, 126, 129, 135, 138, 140, 165 - 169, 187, 188
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A01 : points 9, 84
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A02PT6 : points 13, 87
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A03P1 : points 10, 79, 81, 89, 93, 93
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A03P1LA : points 90, 127, 128
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A03P1LB : points 91, 127
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A04 : point 11
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A04P5 : points 11, 78 - 80, 121
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A05 : points 67, 93
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A05P4 : points 81, 101, 121
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A06 : points 87, 93
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A06P2LB : point 151
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A06P2LC : point 151
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A06P2LD : point 151
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A06P2LE : point 149
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A06P3 : points 81, 91, 101, 121, 149
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A06P4 : point 91
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A07 : point 93
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A07P1 : points 149, 161
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A07P2 : points 141, 155
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A07P3 : point 156
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A07P4 : points 88, 160
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A08 : point 99
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A08P1 : points 12, 87
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A08P2L2 : points 81, 101, 121
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A08P3 : points 93, 103
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A08P4 : points 70, 92
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A09 : points 71, 91, 109
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A11P2 : points 81, 93, 119, 141, 151, 152
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A11P4 : point 159
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A12 : point 120
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A16 : points 47, 91, 97, 164
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A16P1 : points 14, 100, 102, 106
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A17 : points 15, 54
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A17T1 : points 58, 59, 62, 65
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A17T2 : points 58, 60, 62, 66, 73
  
• Directive 2004/35 -A19P1 : points 16, 54
  
• Directive 2004/35 -N2PT1 : points 154, 155, 157 - 159
  
• Directive 2004/35 -N2PT2 : point 167
  
• Directive 2004/35 -N3 : points 90, 92, 92
  
• Directive 2004/35 -N3PT1 : point 90
  
• Directive 2004/35 -N3PT7 : point 90
  
• Directive 2004/35 -C2 : point 84
  
• Directive 2004/35 -C24 : point 151
  
• Directive 2006/12 : points 130, 138
  
• Directive 2006/12 -A04 : point 133
  
• Directive 2006/12 -A15 : point 134
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -25/70 : points 143, 145
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -143/73 : point 64
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -84/78 : point 64
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -98/78 : point 63
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -270/84 : point 64
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -278/84 : point 64
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -137/85 : point 143
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -37/86 : point 41
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -222/86 : point 159
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -265/87 : point 145
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -331/88 : point 143
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -2/92 : point 143
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -379/92 : point 45
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -122/96 : point 64
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -107/97 : point 143
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -110/97 : point 63
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -381/97 : point 143
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -60/98 : point 64
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -162/00 : point 64
  
• Court of Justice - Opinion C -126/01 : point 85
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -17/01 : point 63
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -101/01 : point 143
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -189/01 : point 145
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -482/01 : points 42, 57
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -153/02 : points 42, 57
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -376/02 : point 143
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -387/02 : point 169
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -1/03 : points 132, 135, 136
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -6/03 : points 49, 115
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -79/03 : point 124
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -495/03 : point 39
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -540/03 : point 143
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -181/04 : points 143, 144
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -235/04 : point 124
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -246/04 : points 42, 57
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -310/04 : point 143
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -506/04 : point 38
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -239/05 : point 159
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -305/05 : point 143
  
• Court of Justice - Opinion C -413/06 : point 164
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -37/06 : points 143, 145
  
• Court of Justice - Opinion C -188/07 : points 85, 111
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -188/07 : points 132, 135, 136
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -334/07 : point 64
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -350/07 : point 41
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -405/07 : point 124
  
• Court of Justice - Opinion C -75/08 : point 164
  
• Court of Justice - Opinion C -254/08 : points 86, 106, 111, 115
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -75/08 : point 159
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -254/08 : point 111
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -378/08 : point 187
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -379/08 : point 69
  

Dates

Date of the lodging of the application initiating proceedings

• 21/08/2008

Date of the Opinion

• 22/10/2009

Date of the hearing

Information not available

Date of delivery

09/03/2010

References

Publication in the Official Journal

Application: OJ C 301 from 22.11.2008, p.14

Judgment: OJ C 113 from 01.05.2010, p.8

Name of the parties

ERG and Others

Notes on Academic Writings

1. Hauenschild, Herwig: Sanierungsmaßnahmen nach der UmwelthaftungsRL 2004/35/EG, Ecolex 2010 p.413-414 (DE)
2. Taddei, Gianni: Responsabilità, nesso causale e giusto procedimento (nota a Corte di Giustizia 9 marzo 2010 in C 378/08 e CC 379 - 380/08), Ambiente: mensile di diritto e pratica per l'impresa 2010 nº 05 p.437-445 (IT)
3. Michel, Valérie: Champ d'application et conditions de la responsabilité environnementale, Europe 2010 Mai Comm. nº 178 p. 34-36 (FR)
4. Aubert, Michel ; Broussy, Emmanuelle ; Donnat, Francis: Chronique de jurisprudence communautaire. Environnement - Principe du pollueur-payeur, L'actualité juridique ; droit administratif 2010 p.942-943 (FR)
5. Mok, M.R.: Nederlandse jurisprudentie ; Uitspraken in burgerlijke en strafzaken 2010 nº 347 (NL)
6. Würtenberger, Thomas D.: Beweismaß bei der Umwelthaftung: Die Konkretisierung des Verursacherprinzips liegt bei den Mitgliedstaaten, die durch die Richtlinie 2004/35/EG nicht gehindert sind, auch strengere Maßnahmen vorzusehen - "Augusta-Priolo", Europäisches Wirtschafts- & Steuerrecht - EWS 2010 p.282-284 (DE)
7. Steichen, Pascale: Responsabilité environnementale, Revue juridique de l'environnement 2010 p.503-511 (FR)
8. Cudennec, Annie ; Curtil, Olivier ; De Cet-Bertin, Cécile ; Guéguen-Hallouët, Gaëlle ; Labrot, Véronique: Chronique maritime - Environnement - Jurisprudence - Mise en oeuvre de la Directive 2004/35/CE sur la responsabilité environnementale, Revue du marché commun et de l'Union européenne 2010 nº 542 p.606-607 (FR)
9. Cortés Martín, José Manuel: Jurisprudencia del Tribunal de Justicia de la Uníon Europea, Enero - Abril 2010, Revista de Derecho Comunitario Europeo 2010 nº 34 p.1-61 (ES)
10. Trébulle, François Guy: Droit de l'environnement - Droit de l'Union européenne, Recueil Le Dalloz 2010 nº 37 p.2470-2473 (FR)
11. Brans, Edward ; Suintani, Lorenzo: Milieu en recht 2010 p.526-528 (NL)
12. Bergkamp, Lucas: Comment on Case C-378/08, 9 March 2010; Joined Cases C-379/08 and 380/08, 9 March 2010; Joined Cases C-478/08 and C-479/08, 9 March 2010, Journal for European Environmental & Planning Law 2010 Vol.7 p.355-361 (EN)
13. Bertolini, Paolo: Il Principio "chi inquina paga" e la responsabilità per danno ambientale nella sentenza della Corte di giustizia 9 marzo 2010 - procedimento C-378/08, Rivista italiana di diritto pubblico comunitario 2010 p.1607-1632 (IT)
14. Banu, Mihai: Jurisprudența instanțelor uniunii europene. CJ, Marea Cameră, hotărârea din 9 martie 2010, cauza C-378/08, ERG şi alţii, nepublicată încă în Repertoriu, Revista românã de drept comunitar 2010 nº 06 p.163-168 (RO)
15. Brüls, Christine: Responsabilité environnementale des entreprises : Application du principe du pollueur-payeur en cas d'une pollution diffuse, Revue pratique des sociétés 2010 p.84-103 (FR)
16. Bary, Marion: Chronique de jurisprudence 2010 de la Cour de justice de l'Union européenne (1ère partie). La responsabilité environnementale au sens de la directive 2004/35/CE du 21 avril 2004, Revue de droit rural 2011 nº 396 p.23-25 (FR)

Procedural Analysis Information

Source of the question referred for a preliminary ruling

Tribunale Amministrativo Regionale della Sicilia - Italy

Subject-matter

• Environment
  
• - Waste
  
• - Pollution
  

Provisions of national law referred to

decreto legislativo

Provisions of international law referred to

Information not available

Procedure and result

• Reference for a preliminary ruling
  

Formation of the Court

grande chambre (Cour)

Judge-Rapporteur

Toader

Advocate General

Kokott

Language(s) of the Case

• Italian
  

Language(s) of the Opinion

• German