EU court orders UK to pay €32 million for failing to stop private pleasure boats from using marked fuel

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - The EU Court of Justice ruled Thursday that the UK must pay a €32 million ($33.7 million) penalty for having failed to prohibit the use of marked fuel in private pleasure boats.

"The United Kingdom did not comply with the judgment establishing the infringement until after the court proceedings were brought, after a period of almost three years," the court said in its ruling.

The Court determined that the UK did not take the required steps to fulfill the judgment on time and it dismissed the country's argument that the European Commission acted prematurely.

"In addition, the Court considers that the failure to comply with that judgment cannot be justified by any difficulties related to the legislative procedure, the general election, public consultations, geographic features, the variety in port sizes, difficulties in supplying both marked fuel and unmarked fuel, or the COVID-19 pandemic," it said.

The Court determined in 2018 that the UK was not following the EU Fuel Directive by permitting private pleasure boats to use dyed diesel.

Only Northern Ireland established a ban on red diesel propulsion from Oct. 1, 2021, as legislated by the UK government.

Despite the UK's departure from the EU, Northern Ireland remains a part of the EU single market and is bound by its regulations.