Brussels pressing charges against Slovakia over environmental issues

European commission has decided to refer Slovakia to the Court of Justice of the EU over its failure to assess the impact of sanitary logging on Natura 2000 sites and its failure to take measures for the protection of a bird species as well as for its failure to map noise and draw up noise action plans. The information about the two infringements was released by the Commission on 2 July. Considering the first infringement, the Commission argues that Slovakia failed to correctly implement the EU legislative as far as the Capercaillie, a large forest bird, and its habitat is concerned. Considering the second infringement, the Commission claims that Slovakia has failed to draw up the noise action plans for 445 major road segments (out of 622) and for all 16 major railway segments.