Slovakia receives Commission’s warnings over late introduction of EU directives

The European Commission has contacted Slovakia regarding the late introduction of EU directives, including ornamental and fruit plant health, organic varieties of agricultural plants, and the adjustment of the conditions of defence industry transfers within the EU.

Slovakia, as well as Cyprus, Estonia and Malta, also did not ensure the transposition of this year’s directive regulating the conditions of defence industry transfers between European countries. Member countries were to notify the Commission of measures to incorporate this directive into their legal systems by 30 May, Slovak Press Agency reported.

A total of 25 EU countries have not notified the Commission of national measures for the transposition of EU directives, for which the deadline for introduction into federal legislation has passed in recent months. The Commission, therefore, sent them a formal invitation to do so, Slovak Press Agency informs.

Slovakia received such a challenge with Belgium, Luxembourg and Hungary, regarding the 2022 directives, determining the exemptions for organic varieties of agricultural plants and vegetables. The deadline in this case expired on 30 June.

Slovakia and seven other countries, including Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Hungary, Portugal and Italy) have also received formal challenges in connection with ornamental and fruit plant health legislation. The relevant directive from 2022 was also supposed to be incorporated into national legislation by the end of June.

If the member countries do not respond within the specified deadline to the mentioned calls of the European Commission, the latter can send them a reasoned opinion as a further legal step.

(Lucia Yar | EURACTIV.sk)