"We are sending a first warning to Greece over its failures," a Commission official told Reuters.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Greece received a warning from the European Commission on Tuesday for what the EU's executive arm called violations of U.N. greenhouse gas reporting rules that underpin a fight against global warming.
"We are sending a first warning to Greece over its failures," a Commission official told Reuters.
A second warning by the European Union executive could result in the case being brought to the European Court of Justice -- Europe's top court, with potentially hefty fines for Greece.
Greece was suspended last month from U.N. carbon trading after Athens failed to maintain a proper national system for recording greenhouse gas emissions, key to ensuring compliance with the Kyoto Protocol.
!ADVERTISEMENT!The Kyoto Protocol seeks to slow temperature rises that could bring more floods, droughts, heatwaves and rising seas.
It imposes a cap on emissions of greenhouse gas by some 37 industrial countries but allows them to meet their targets by paying for emissions cuts elsewhere, such as in the developing world.
(Reporting by Darren Ennis; Editing by Dale Hudson)
