Fifteen non-profits take fresh legal action against Europe’s biggest plastics project

Subject: Environment

Section: Int Conventions

Context:

Client Earth, Greenpeace, WWF, and 12 other non-profits are challenging the Flemish Authority’s approval of INEOS’ €3 billion plastics project in Belgium, citing it as Europe’s largest potential plastics facility.

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This legal action, initiated on February 22, 2024, extends a three-year battle against the project, which a Belgian court deemed illegal in July 2023 due to its potential violation of the EU Habitats Directive by increasing nitrogen pollution.
Despite government and INEOS claims of negligible environmental impact, the NGOs argue the project’s approval bypassed necessary impact assessments, violating EU and national laws.
They emphasize the project’s dire implications for environmental, climate, and public health, highlighting the excessive nitrogen pollution it would introduce to protected areas and its contribution to the global plastics and climate crisis.
The case is validated by the Council of Permit Disputes.

Source: DTE