Official Journal of the European Union

EN

C series

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C/2025/1415

10.3.2025

(Case C-45/25)

(C/2025/1415)

Language of the case: Dutch

Parties

Applicant: European Commission (represented by: B. De Meester and N. Ruiz García, acting as Agents)

Defendant: Kingdom of Belgium

Form of order sought

The Commission claims that the Court should:

—declare that, by failing, in the framework of the action programmes in the territory of the Vlaamse Gewest (Flemish Region), to take all necessary additional measures or reinforced actions despite the water pollution from agriculture identified, the Kingdom of Belgium has failed to fulfil its obligations under Article 5(5) of Council Directive 91/676/EEC (1) of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources;

—order the Kingdom of Belgium to pay the costs.

Pleas in law and main arguments

The Kingdom of Belgium has failed, in the territory of the Flemish Region, to fulfil its obligations under Article 5(5) of Council Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources. Following expiry of the deadline for responding to the reasoned opinion (28 November 2023), the Flemish Region has still not taken the necessary measures, even though it has been established since at least 2020 that existing measures are not sufficient for achieving the objective of the directive, which is to reduce and prevent water pollution by nitrates and eutrophication as a result of agricultural activities.

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(1) OJ 1991 L 375, p. 1.

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ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2025/1415/oj

ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)

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