"The picture that emerges from this exercise confirms my strong concerns", said EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik on Tuesday in reaction to results of a study examining the member states’ implementation of EU waste law. The report allocated points to each member state based on 18 criteria such as the adequacy of waste management infrastructure, reliance on landfilling, recycling performance, and infringements of EU legislation.
Greece scored lowest with just 3 points out of 42 possible points. The other member states with the largest implementation gaps identified in the study are Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.
The European Commission said it planned to prepare roadmaps for the ten worst performing states which will contain "tailor-made recommendations on how to improve waste management using economic, legal and administrative tools, and EU structural funds".