EU sues Spain for failure to apply waste management requirements

The European Commission on Wednesday said it was suing Spain for failing to apply the waste management requirements due to existence of unclosed illegal landfills.

"The persistence of, at least, 195 illegal landfills that have not yet been closed, sealed and restored since 2008 is causing significant harm to the environment while endangering human health," the Commission said in a statement.

It acknowledged some progress on the side of the Spanish authorities but said the shortcomings have not yet been fully addressed, deeming Spain's efforts "insufficient".