The environmental permits for three new coal-fired power stations in the Netherlands are in order and do not break EU rules, the European Court of Justice said on Thursday.

The court said it is up to the Netherlands to decide how it will reduce airborne pollution in line with EU targets and the three new power plants do not necessarily conflict with that.
Environmental groups had argued the Netherlands does not meet these targets and the new coal-fired stations will lead to an increase in air pollution.
At the end of last year, the court’s senior advisor said the permits had been awarded wrongly because the government had not checked if the new power stations – being built by Eon, Electrabel and RWE – would help meet national pollution targets.