HC Deb 19 April 1994 vol 241 c444W
Dr. Lynne Jones

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what actions(a) the European Commission and (b) other member states can take against member states that do not enforce implementation of European directives.

Mr. Jack

Where the European Commission considers that a member state has failed to fulfil a Community obligation it may, in accordance with article 169 of the treaty of Rome, deliver a reasoned opinion, after giving the member state the opportunity to submit its observations. If the member state does not comply with the opinion, the Commission may bring the matter before the European Court of Justice. Similarly, if a member state considers that another member state has failed to fulfil a Community obligation it may, under article 170 of the treaty of Rome, bring the matter before the European Court of Justice. Before it does so, however, it must give the Commission an opportunity to consider the dispute.