Cyprus faces the prospect of fines for failing to respect a ruling from the European Court of Justice ordering it to adequately collect and treat waste water, while 12 other member states have received final warnings for breaching energy and environment rules.

A legal adviser to the EU’s top court has said Ireland should be found guilty of a ‘general and persistent infringement’ of the Habitats Directive.

Ireland, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Portugal and Slovakia have all been referred to the European Court of Justice for breaching EU green rules ranging from landfills to invasive species.

Taking legal action against member states for systemic breaches of environmental law rather than individual cases has led to a more efficient infringements process, the European Commission has said.

Eleven member states have received reasoned opinions over their failure to fully transpose key EU rules on renewable energy and energy efficiency, the European Commission announced on Thursday.

Individuals may be able to claim compensation from their governments if they can prove illegally high air pollution has damaged their health, an adviser to the EU’s top court has said.

Malta and Poland face legal action at the EU’s top court after the European Commission accused them of breaching the Urban Waste Water Directive.

The European Commission has warned Spain in a strongly worded letter that it will take immediate action, including requesting a fine, if the Andalusian parliament approves a proposed amnesty for illegal agricultural irrigation in the protected Doñana wetland area.