Commission v Spain (Directive 91/676)

Judgment of the Court (Sixth Chamber) of 14 March 2024 – European Commission v Kingdom of Spain(Case C-576/22) 1(Failure of a Member State to fulfil obligations – Directive 91/676/EEC – Article 3(4) – Article 5(4) – Annex II(A)(2) and (5) – Annex II(B)(9) – Annex III(1)(2) and (3) and Annex III(2) – Article 5(5) – Protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources – Review of the list of nitrate vulnerable zones – Mandatory measures provided for in action programmes – Additional or reinforced measures)Language of the case: Spanish Parties Applicant: European Commission (represented by: C. Hermes and E. Sanfrutos Cano, acting as Agents)Defendant: Kingdom of Spain (represented by: A. Ballesteros Panizo, acting as Agent)Operative part of the judgment The Court:1.    –    By not designating as vulnerable zones in the Comunidad Autónoma de las Islas Baleares (Autonomous Community of the Balearic Islands, Spain), in the Comunidad de Madrid (Community of Madrid, Spain) and in the Comunidad Valenciana (Community of Valencia, Spain) the water catchment areas by run-off (surface water) or seepage (groundwater) corresponding to each of the following polluted measuring points::Autonomous Community of the Balearic Islands: 1801 M 1 T 1, ES 53 M 0137, ES 53 M 1123 and ES 53 M 1205;Community of Madrid: TA 53306008; and Community of Valencia: JU 210, JU 209 and JU 202;by failing to include all the necessary mandatory measures in the action programmes of the...