Brussels - The failure of the Greek authorities to halt the pollution of a river on the island of Crete has led to the imposition of a landmark €20,000-a-day fine by the European Court of Justice, Patrick Smyth reports. The EU court for the first time used powers under the Maastricht Treaty to fine a member-state for failing to comply with one of its previous judgments.
The fines will continue until the Greek government, which has now promised to build an incinerator, ends the dumping.