EU refers Greece to court over waste management violations
The European Commission has referred Greece and Cyprus to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) over alleged failures to comply with EU rules on landfill operations and waste management.
In a statement reported by Anadolu Agency on October 2, 2026, the Commission said both countries had failed to adequately address deficiencies in waste disposal and treatment infrastructure despite previous warnings.
66 OF 81 GREEK LANDFILLS FOUND NON-COMPLIANT
The Commission said it sent formal notices to Greece and Cyprus in 2021 over shortcomings at landfill sites and the failure to establish the necessary waste management facilities.
In December 2024, it issued reasoned opinions to both countries as part of the EU infringement procedure.
According to the Commission's findings cited in the report, 66 of Greece's 81 landfills did not comply with EU requirements.
WASTE TREATMENT CAPACITY REMAINS INSUFFICIENT
The Commission also identified shortcomings in Cyprus, where 21% of waste generated was reportedly sent to landfills without the required pre-treatment.
It further stated that waste treatment facilities in both countries lacked sufficient capacity to process municipal waste.
The Commission said the efforts made by the Greek and Cypriot authorities to remedy the deficiencies had not been sufficient, prompting the decision to refer both cases to the EU's top court.
The referral advances the infringement proceedings against the two countries. The Court of Justice will consider the alleged breaches of EU law; the referral itself does not constitute a final court ruling.
