The European Court of Justice’s senior legal advisor said on Thursday environmental permits given by the Dutch state for three new coal-fired power stations had been awarded wrongly.

The advocate general said the government should have checked if the new power stations – being built by Eon, Electrabel and RWE – would help meet national pollution targets.
Environmental groups argue the Netherlands does not meet these targets and the new coal-fired stations will lead to an increase in air pollutions.
The European court will make its ruling in early 2011.