• Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Contact
  • About
  • Search
    • Search US
    • Search Global
  • Global Litigation
  • U.S. Litigation

ClientEarth and Ecologistas en Acción v. Spain

Filing Date: 2021
Reporter Info: European Commission
Status: Pending
Case Categories:
  • Suits against governments
    • Protecting biodiveristy and ecosystems
Jurisdictions:
  • European Union
    • European Court of Justice
Principal Laws:
  • European Union
    • Secondary Law
      • Directives
        • 2000/60/EC
  • European Union
    • Secondary Law
      • Directives
        • 1991/676/EEC
Summary:

On October 6th 2021, Client Earth and Ecologistas en Acción filed a complaint to the European Commission over pollution in the Mar Menor Lagoon, located in the Region of Murcia, as a result of the increased socio-economic use of the area with a convergent increase of activities that include agriculture, tourism, fishing, or old mining operations. In particular, the plaintiffs argue that contrary to the obligations envisaged in the Nitrates Directive and relevant national nature laws, Spain has taken superficial steps to protect Mar Menor Lagoon from harmful agricultural practices and failed to take necessary measures to avoid deterioration of the lagoon’s ecosystem and protected animal species. The plaintiffs request the European Commission to launch infringement proceedings against Spain, in accordance with art. 258 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

In December 2021, the European Commission referred Spain to the Court of Justice of the European Union for poor implementation of the Nitrates Directive. The Commission stated that “Spain must still take additional measures to prevent eutrophication for the whole country” and implement additional measures in those regions where the measures set in places “have proven insufficient to achieve the objectives of the Nitrates Directive”, including Murcia.

At Issue: Whether regional and national Spanish authorities have failed to adopt the necessary measures to protect Mar Menor in accordance with EU and national environmental laws.
Case Documents:
Filing Date Type File Summary
10/06/2021 Press Release We are fighting to protect Spain's iconic Mar Menor lagoon from ecological collapse https://www.clientearth.org/latest/latest-updates/news/we-are-fighting-to-protect-spain-s-iconic-mar-menor-lagoon-from-ecological-collapse/

© 2023 · Sabin Center for Climate Change Law · U.S. Litigation Chart made in collaboration with Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP

The materials on this website are intended to provide a general summary of the law and do not constitute legal advice. You should consult with counsel to determine applicable legal requirements in a specific fact situation.