The European Commission today opened two infringement procedures against Portugal for failures to transpose environmental and pollution-control legislation, sending a letter of formal notice.
One of the procedures concerns the lack of communication of the full transposition of the revised Hydrogen and Decarbonised Gas Directive (EU) 2024/1788, adopted in 2024, which aims to “facilitate the uptake of renewable gases and low-carbon gases, including hydrogen, while ensuring the security of supply and the affordability of energy prices for all EU citizens,” according to a press release.
Member States were required to notify the transposition of the directive to integrate the rules into national law by 5 August 2026.
Portugal will also have to respond to the Commission regarding the lack of notification of the full transposition of the Directive on Industrial Emissions and Livestock.
This legislation targets the environmental and human health effects of industrial and farming installations, requiring the use of the best available techniques and compliance with emission limit values.
The directive tightens the rules on emission reductions, aims to reduce the use of hazardous chemicals, and creates a new right to compensation for health damages caused by illegal pollution.
Member States should have informed Brussels about the transposition of these rules into national law by 1 July 2026.
In the absence of a satisfactory reply within two months, the Commission may decide to issue a reasoned opinion.
