Mr. Hew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the implications for the rights of United Kingdom citizens to challenge potentially environmentally hazardous projects, endorsed by the European Commission, of the two decisions of the European court of first instance, case T-585/93 on 9 August 1995 and case T-219/95 on 22 December 1995. [11985]
§ Mr. ClappisonCitizens of the European Union, including UK citizens, who seek to institute proceedings against a Commission decision must show that the decision is of direct and individual concern to them, as required by article 173 of the treaty establishing the European Community and article 146 of the Euratom treaty.
In both of the cases referred to, T-219/95 and T-585/93, the European court of first instance found that the applicants did not meet the above requirements. In the case of T-585/93, that ruling is now the subject of an appeal in the European Court of Justice.