TIME EUROPE
July 17, 2000 VOL. 156 NO. 3
Sun, Sand and Toxic Waste
For the first time ever the European Court of Justice fines an E.U. member state
By ANTHEE CARASSAVA Athens
The cogs turn slowly in the creaky machinery of the European Union, but last week they chinked into a higher gear when, for the first time, the European Court of Justice levied a fine on an E.U. member. Since its ruling last Tuesday, Greece has to pay $19,000 a day until its authorities clean up Kouroupitos, a toxic waste dump in a waterless ravine not far from the tourist beaches of western Crete.
Not before time. It was back in 1987 that European Commission environmental officials first cited the dump as being in breach of European directives on human health and the environment. That led to a Court of Justice ruling in 1992 demanding that Greece clean up the site, which contains tons of industrial, medical and military waste.
But local authorities responsible for the island's waste management resisted state plans to shut the dump and replace it with a high-tech recycling plant closer to an inhabited area. "Every time I move to solve the crisis," says Environment Minister Costas Laliotis, "they bring out the guns and brandish black flags." Even last week, black-clad locals used bulldozers to block state workers from beginning construction of an interim waste storage site.
The rolling fine comes at a bad time for Greece. "It is unacceptable that the government's negligence and tardiness give Greece the image of a rubbish dump country at the start of the tourist season," scolded the Athens daily Kathimerini. Prime Minister Costas Simitis was more philosophical. "A single order cannot change the minds and practices of a nation," he said. "It's a process that takes time."
So does the Brussels legal system, but the pioneer ruling does at least augur tougher action against member states that violate or ignore Community law. It raises the prospect, for example, that France could have to pay in cash for its high-profile defiance of an E.U. decision last autumn allowing the resumption of imports of British beef after the "mad cow" scare.
But when? If the Greek dump decision is any indication, British farmers may have to wait, as the saying goes, until the cows come home.
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July 17, 2000
COVER
The Lure of Ecstasy
The elixir best known for powering raves is an 80-year-old illegal drug. But it's showing up outside clubs too, and advocates claim it even has therapeutic benefits. Just how dangerous is it?
Rave New World
It's more than just ecstasy. The youth culture is in thrall to deejays and floats on the relentless beat of electronic music
EUROPE
Putin's Hard 100
The honeymoon's over for Russia's new leader as he battles on military, political and economic fronts
Putin's Chechnya Nightmare
The War the Kremlin Said Was Won
The Haider Effect
Isolated and angry over diplomatic sanctions, Austria threatens to raise the stakes on E.U. enlargement
That's Another Fine Mess
An underage drinking spree sees Euan Blair arrested, and his dad nursing a political hangover
Sun, Sand and Toxic Waste
For the first time ever the European Court of Justice fines an E.U. member state
Europe's Not Up in Arms
A Euro Army is the declared goal, but there's more smoke than firepower
MIDDLE EAST
Why Arafat's in a State
He wants a Palestinian nation, but fears that his people won't forgive him if he makes concessions
The Modern Mullah
One of the architects of Khomeini's revolution has become a guru of Islamic reform in Iran
AFRICA
Fatal Destiny
Experts are meeting in South Africa to combat a plague ravaging the continent — but already there are disputes over the right strategy
Death Row
Kenyans would rather not talk about the disease that is destroying lives and threatening the economy
The Cost Of Living
Pharmaceutical Companies and Drugs
A Distant Mirror
Europe's Black Death is a history lesson in human tragedy — and economic renewal
BUSINESS
Keep the Change
Turkey's government takes on the structural problems at the heart of the country's economy
The Infoanarchist
Could this 23-year-old Irish programmer begin to unravel the Web?
The Data Haven
Closely Guarded Secrets
RELIGION
The Stained Glass Ceiling
Despite stubbornly held conservative attitudes, women are claiming their place in the pulpit
DEPARTMENTS
To Our Readers
Tech Watch
World Watch
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