Judgment_paragraph 79 · SU and Wild Ireland Defence CLG v An Coimisiún Pleanála and Others (C-27/25)

79That screening stage does not involve carrying out an analysis as full and precise as the analysis which must be carried out in the context of the appropriate assessment of the implications of a plan or project for the site concerned. The Court has held that the analysis of measures capable of avoiding or reducing any significant effects on the site concerned must be carried out not at the screening stage, but at the appropriate assessment stage. According to the Court, taking account of such measures at that screening stage would be liable to compromise the practical effect of the Habitats Directive generally and the appropriate assessment in particular, as the latter stage would be deprived of its purpose and there would be a risk of circumvention of that stage, which constitutes, however, an essential safeguard provided for by the directive (see, to that effect, judgment of 15 June 2023, Eco Advocacy, C‑721/21, EU:C:2023:477, paragraphs 46 and 47 and the case-law cited).

Source: EUR-Lex, © European Union, 1998-2026. Reuse authorised under Decision 2011/833/EU.

Key facts

Court

Court of Justice · Fourth Chamber

Case

C-27/25 · ECLI:EU:C:2026:596

Decided

16 Jul 2026

Procedure

Preliminary reference · referred by the Court of Appeal (Ireland) (C‑27/25) and the High Court (Ireland) (C‑356/25)

Applicants

SU; Wild Ireland Defence CLG; Paddy Massey

Defendants

An Coimisiún Pleanála; Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and 10 more

Ireland; The Attorney General; notice party:; Knocknamona Windfarm Limited; An Coimisiún Pleanála; Ireland; The Attorney General; Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage; notice party:; Curns Energy Limited

Rapporteur

A. Kornezov

Advocate General

J. Kokott

Bench

5 judges

I. Jarukaitis, M. Condinanzi, N. Jääskinen, R. Frendo, A. Kornezov

Language

English

Official

CURIA · EUR-Lex 62025CJ0027

SU and Wild Ireland Defence CLG v An Coimisiún Pleanála and Others (C-27/25)

Key facts

Connections

History · 1 version