ECJ SAYS IRELAND EIA PLANNING CONSENT FEES ARE LEGAL
November 1st, 2006
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Court of Justice (ECJ) has dismissed claims from the European Commission that fees demanded by the Irish government for participation in environmental impact assessments (EIA) are illegal. The court has ruled that because the fees are low (Pounds 20 for local authority and Euro 45 for Planning Appeals Board inquiries), they are not an illegal "obstacle to the exercise of the rights of participation" under the EU's EIA directives 85/337/EEC and 97/11/EC.
ENDS
THE EUROPEAN Court of Justice (ECJ) has dismissed claims from the European Commission that fees demanded by the Irish government for participation in environmental impact assessments (EIA) are illegal. The court has ruled that because the fees are low (Pounds 20 for local authority and Euro 45 for Planning Appeals Board inquiries), they are not an illegal "obstacle to the exercise of the rights of participation" under the EU's EIA directives 85/337/EEC and 97/11/EC.
ENDS
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