Commission of the European Communities v. Republic of Austria Country/Territory Austria, European Union Type of court International court Date Mar 26, 2006 Source UNEP, InforMEA Court name European Court of Justice Seat of court Luxembourg Judge Kokott, J. Reference number T-209/04 Language German Subject Environment gen. Keyword Wild fauna Wild flora Birds EIA Abstract The Commission has ruled Austria guilty of breaching the Wild Birds Directive 79/409/EEC, because it had not designated the areas of Soren en Gleggen-Köblern as SPAs, Special Protected Areas. Austria was not condemned for breaching the Habitats Directive of 1992 even though the Commission had claimed it had, because Austria had allowed the construction of a highway near the sites. The ECJ reasoned, like it had in previous EIA-cases, that the fact that the plans for the highway already existed before Austrias accession to the EU in 1995, this precluded the directive from being applicable in this case. Full text Commission of the European Communities v. Republic of Austria 20060323 english.pdf Website curia.europa.eu References Cites Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds. Legislation | European Union | 1979 (2003) Keyword: Birds, Hunting/capture, Endangered species, Management/conservation, Protection of habitats, Hunting gear/hunting methods, Protection of species Source: FAO, FAOLEX Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora Legislation | European Union | 1992 (2013) Keyword: Ecosystem preservation, Protected area, Biodiversity, Protection of habitats, Wild fauna, Wild flora, Management/conservation, Endangered species, Hunting/capture, Hunting gear/hunting methods, Data collection/reporting, Protection of species Source: FAO, FAOLEX