Reuters: Shale gas drillers have to consider cumulative impact -EU's top court

The European Union's top court has clarified EU rules on shale gas exploration in a judgment that could require some member states to change their legislation, lawyers said. The court confirmed impact assessments are not obligatory, but could be required depending on particular circumstances.

The case, heard at the EU's Court of Justice (ECJ), was referred by an Austrian court after a complaint from the municipality of Strasswalchen, where shale gas exploration has taken place.

Industry and environmental campaigners said they welcomed the ECJ ruling published on Wednesday and the Austrian Environment Ministry issued a statement saying the court had backed the Austrian position.

"Failure to take account of the cumulative effect of one project with other projects must not mean in practice that they all escape the obligation to carry out an assessment when, taken together, they are likely to have significant effects on the environment," the court said.

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