TARANTO – The European Court of Justice has set the public hearing for 25 June (9.30 am) for the pronouncement of the sentence regarding the collective injunction action against the former Ilva promoted by 10 citizens belonging to the Genitori Tarantini association and by an 11 year old boy suffering from a rare genetic mutation. The class action was subsequently signed by over 130 citizens.
It was the Company Court of Milan, in September 2022, that suspended the case on the injunction by transmitting the documents to the Court of Luxembourg to essentially ask three questions concerning the interpretation of European legislation on polluting emissions from industrial plants in relation to Italian standards. The appellants first ask for the “cessation of the activities of the hot area” of the former Ilva, the “closure of the coke ovens, the interruption of the activity of the hot area until the implementation of the requirements” of the Hague and the ” preparation of an industrial plan that provides for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50%”.
The injunction action was presented by the Tarantini Parents Association through the lawyers Ascanio Amenduni and Maurizio Rizzo Striano, the Puglia Region appeared in court ad adiuvandum.
In the hearing on 14 December, the advocate general of the EU Court Juliane Kokott argued that «according to EU directives, an industrial plant cannot be authorized if it causes excessive damage to health and only in particular circumstances is a deferral of the measures possible. for the reduction of environmental impact”.
Codacons announces that tomorrow the lawyers of the association will be in Taranto to deliver checks for a total amount of 155 thousand euros to 31 civil parties in the ‘Ambiente Svenduto’ trial for the alleged environmental disaster caused by the former Ilva in the management of the Riva, which culminated in first degree (sentence of 31 May 2021) with the conviction of 26 defendants. The Court of Assizes ordered provisional payments of 5 thousand euros towards the offended parties. The appeal process is now underway and 37 individuals and three companies are accused.
The sum of 155 thousand euros, explains Codacons, was «obtained by the association as compensation before the Court of Assizes of Taranto as part of the Environment Sold Out trial. The citizens, represented in the trial by Codacons, will receive a check as compensation for the health damage suffered due to the polluting emissions of the steelworks, compensation paid by the Court which condemned the Riva family and other individuals accused of environmental crimes”.
The delivery of the cheques, in the presence of Codacons lawyers Carlo Rienzi, Vincenzo Rienzi, Giuliano Leuzzi, Adriano Minetola and Luca Piccione, will take place at 12.30 pm at the Giovanni Paolo II multipurpose center in the Tamburi district of Taranto. The association reports that it “also invited the well-known rapper Fedez to the event”.
