Estonia, EU – Baltic States, Legislation, Markets and Companies

The Commission took 276 decisions, including 44 reasoned opinions and 9 referrals to the European Union's Court of Justice, the Commission's press service said.

Among the reasoned opinions, the European Commission is asking Estonia to comply with EU legislation requiring Member States to draw up marine strategies to protect their seas. The Marine Strategy Framework Directive aims to ensure that Europe's seas achieve good environmental status by 2020. Estonia has failed to inform the Commission about all the transposition measures of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, which should have been in place by 15 July 2010. Since the transposition is still partial, the Commission is sending a reasoned opinion.

Secondly, The European Commission formally requested Estonia, Italy and Slovenia to notify the transposition measures of the information procedures for the exchange of human organs (Directive 2012/25/EU). This Directive lays down procedures to facilitate cooperation between Member States and mutual understanding of the information on organs and donor characterisation, for their traceability and for the reporting of serious adverse events and reactions. To date, the above Member States have not yet notified the Commission of the measures transposing this Directive into national law, despite being required to do so by 10 April 2014.

The European Commission formally requested Denmark, Estonia and Italy to notify the transposition measures of Directive 2012/39/EU which amends the existing requirements applicable to the testing of human tissues and cells. To date, the above Member States have not notified the Commission of the measures transposing this Directive into national law, despite being required to do so by 17 June 2014.

The European Commission has requested Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Ireland, Spain, France, Finland, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Slovenia to correctly implement the EU Directive on driving licences (Directive 2006/126/EC).

If Estonia fails to inform the Commission within two months of the measures taken to transpose the relevant EU legislation, the Commission could refer the cases to the European Court of Justice and may already ask the Court to impose financial sanctions at this stage.