The implementation of four waste management directives between 1989 and 1994 was the subject of a report by Luis Campoy Zueco (E, EPP). He condemned the "shortcomings and lack of diligence" of member states in enforcing EU waste legislation, and in particular their failure to submit reports on implementation as required. This meant, he said, that it was impossible to determine whether member states had actually fulfilled their obligations under the legislation.
He therefore called for EU environment law to be made more consistent and transparent and for an EU regulation that would define "waste". He also wanted the Commission to provide Parliament with a quarterly list of cases in the Court of Justice against member states which had defaulted on their obligations and in the event of flagrant violation he wanted the minister from the relevant member state to appear before it with an explanation.
Unhappiness with member state implementation of the legislation was echoed by other MEPs such as Doeke Eisma (Nl, ELDR) and Gonzalez Alvarez (E, EUL/NGL). Jim Fitzsimons (Irl, UFE) stressed the need not to use landfill sites for future waste disposal. He welcomed plans for further investment in waste disposal in Ireland, and the commissioning of a study of new and alternative forms of waste creation and disposal.
Patricia McKenna (Dublin, Greens) referred specifically to the case of Ireland which had, she lamented, failed to file reports. She noted the high level of landfill sites in Ireland and noted that many of these dumps were on the edge of towns. These, she believed, were a particular threat to pregnant women and she noted that a recent report showed that women living within 1.8 miles of such sites were 33 per cent more likely to give birth to babies with deformities such as spina bifida. Winding up for the Commission, Ritt Bjerregaard welcomed MEPs' support for implementation of the legislation by member states to be improved.