Original language

French

Country
Belgium
Date of text
Status
Unknown
Type of court
International court
Sources
Court name
European Court of Justice
Seat of court
Luxembourg
Reference number
C-2/07
Tagging
Environmental Impact Assessments
Free tags
Environment gen.
Air & atmosphere
Justice(s)
Timmermans, C.W.A
Bay Larsen, L.
Schiemann, K.
Kuris, P.
Bonichot, J.-C.
Kokott, J.
Abstract
On 28 February 2008 the European Court of Justice delivered a preliminary ruling on the operation of an air freight centre at the Belgian Liège-Bierset Airport. The request for a preliminary ruling asked for interpretation of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) directive (85/337/EEC). The Court found that the restructuring of the airport does not constitute a ‘project’ within the meaning of the EIA directive. The Court ruled that the national courts have discretion to decide whether the EIA directive applies when deciding in the case in question, which concerns noise pollution claims linked to the works at the Belgian airport.