BRUSSELS, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission (EC) is sending letters of first warning to Portugal and Spain for failing to take sufficient measures to protect natural resources, the EU's executive body said Tuesday.

    The Portuguese case concerns authorizations for planned tourist complexes in protected areas, while Spain's case concerns failure to comply with a European Court of Justice ruling that requires the country to designate sufficient protected areas for the conservation and protection of wild birds in a number of regions.

    "Europe depends on its biodiversity for innumerable ecological services, from water and air purification to forestry resources. That biodiversity is under threat, and it is vital that we protect it," said European Union (EU) Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas, referring to infringement proceedings against the two countries.

    The EC, the executive body of the EU, believes that Spain has failed to comply with a court ruling last year in many areas, although the situation has improved over the last two areas.

    The EC is not happy either with Portugal's fast-track authorizations of tourist developments, which cover almost 1,200 hectares, including six golf courses, 21 apartment villages, 660 tourist villas and 21 hotels. The EC argues that impact assessments for the developments were flawed.