The Commission, the EU’s executive arm, said the seven government would be taken before the European Court of Justice to answer charges they had broken or not properly applied European environment laws.
"I am determined to ensure that member states implement the environmental initiatives they have agreed to properly and on time," Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said.
"Missing deadlines or implementing legislation poorly delays our efforts to reduce pollution and improve the environment — a vital task that a large majority of Europe’s citizens look to use to carry out effectively," he said.
Ireland faced eight separate cases over water pollution, waste disposal, and poor (inadequate measures?) to reduce air pollution.
Belgium and Luxembourg would be tried for not bringing national statute books into line with EU laws on water protection.
Belgium was also charged over the bloc’s emissions trading system — as was the Netherlands for being late or inadequate in implementing EU laws on industrial emissions, packaging waste and water protection.
Finland, Sweden and Denmark face the Commission’s wrath for failures in nature protection and industrial pollution.