The European Union’s Court of Justice imposed a hefty fine on Greece, on Thursday, ruling that the country failed to comply with a 2014 decision regarding the management of the landfill on the island of Zakynthos.
In its judgment, the court ordered Greece to pay a lump sum of 5.5 million euros to the European Commission, along with a daily penalty of 12,500 euros for every day of non-compliance from the date of publication.
The case centers on the continued operation of the landfill, located within Zakynthos’ marine national park — the natural habitat of the endangered loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). Back in 2014, the court had already found that the site was overloaded and malfunctioning, posing serious risks to both public health and the environment.
Despite nearly a decade of exchanges between the European Commission and Greek authorities, the court concluded that sufficient action had not been taken. A 2017 warning letter revealed that the landfill continued to accept waste until the end of that year.
The Commission filed a new complaint in 2024, leading to today’s ruling. In its reasoning, the court emphasized the seriousness of the breach, the ongoing environmental dangers, and Greece’s repeated past violations in waste management.
