Judgment of the Court (Tenth Chamber) of 10 April 2014 —
Commission v Italy

(Case C‑85/13)

Failure of a Member State to fulfil obligations — Directive 91/271/EEC — Treatment of urban waste water — Articles 3 to 5 and 10 — Annex I(A) and (B)

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, 4, 5 and 10) (see para. 31)

Re:

Failure of a Member State to fulfil obligations — Failure to adopt or notify, within the prescribed period, the provisions necessary to comply with Articles 3, 4, 5 and 10 of Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste-water treatment (OJ 1991 L 135, p. 40), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1137/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2008 (OJ 2008 L 311, p. 1).

Operative part

The Court:

1. Declares that, by having failed to adopt the provisions necessary to ensure that:

–        the agglomerations of Melegnano, Mortara, Olona Nord, Olona Sud, Robecco sul Naviglio, San Giuliano Milanese Est, Trezzano sul Naviglio and Vigevano (Lombardy), which have a population equivalent of more than 10 000 and discharge urban waste water into receiving waters which are considered ‘sensitive areas’ within the meaning of Article 5(1) of Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste-water treatment, as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1137/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2008, are provided with collecting systems for urban waste water, in accordance with Article 3 of that directive;

–        in the agglomerations of Pescasseroli (Abruzzo), Cormons, Gradisca d’Isonzo, Grado (Friuli-Venezia Giulia), Broni, Calco, Casteggio, Melegnano, Mortara, Orzinuovi, Rozzano, Trezzano sul Naviglio, Valle San Martino, Vigevano (Lombardy), Pesaro, Urbino (Marche), Alta Val Susa (Piedmont), Nuoro (Sardinia), Castellammare del Golfo I, Cinisi, Terrasini (Sicily), Courmayeur (Aosta Valley) and Thiene (Veneto), which have a population equivalent of more than 10 000, urban waste water entering collecting systems is, before discharge, subject to secondary treatment or an equivalent treatment, in accordance with Article 4 of Directive 91/271, as amended by Regulation No 1137/2008;

–        in the agglomerations of Pescasseroli (Abruzzo), Aviano Capoluogo, Cividale del Friuli, Codroipo/Sedegliano/Flaibano, Cormons, Gradisca d’Isonzo, Grado, Latisana Capoluogo, Pordenone/Porcia/Roveredo/Cordenons, Sacile, Udine (Friuli-Venezia Giulia), Frosinone (Lazio), Francavilla Fontana, Trinitapoli (Puglia), Dorgali, Nuoro, ZIR Villacidro (Sardinia), Castellammare del Golfo I, Cinisi, Partinico, Terrasini and Trappeto (Sicily), which have a population equivalent of more than 10 000 and discharge into receiving waters which are considered ‘sensitive areas’ within the meaning of Directive 91/271, as amended by Regulation No 1137/2008, urban waste water entering collecting systems is, before discharge, subject to more stringent treatment than secondary treatment or an equivalent treatment, in accordance with Article 5 of that directive, and

–        the urban waste water treatment plants built to comply with the requirements of Articles 4 to 7 of Directive 91/271, as amended by Regulation No 1137/2008, are designed, constructed, operated and maintained to ensure sufficient performance under all normal local climatic conditions and to ensure that the urban waste water treatment plants are designed in such a way as to take account of seasonal variations of the load in the agglomerations of Pescasseroli (Abruzzo), Aviano Capoluogo, Cividale del Friuli, Codroipo/Sedegliano/Flaibano, Cormons, Gradisca d’Isonzo, Grado, Latisana Capoluogo, Pordenone/Porcia/Roveredo/Cordenons, Sacile, Udine (Friuli-Venezia Giulia), Frosinone (Lazio), Broni, Calco, Casteggio, Melegnano, Mortara, Orzinuovi, Rozzano, Trezzano sul Naviglio, Valle San Martino, Vigevano (Lombardy), Pesaro, Urbino (Marche), Alta Val Susa (Piedmont), Francavilla Fontana, Trinitapoli (Puglia), Dorgali, Nuoro, ZIR Villacidro (Sardinia), Castellammare del Golfo I, Cinisi, Partinico, Terrasini, Trappeto (Sicily), Courmayeur (Aosta Valley) and Thiene (Veneto),

the Italian Republic has failed to fulfil its obligations under Article 3 and/or Article 4 and/or Article 5 as well as Article 10 of Directive 91/271, as amended by Regulation No 1137/2008;

2. Orders the Italian Republic to pay the costs.