EU legislation

General environmental legislation

Source: http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/environment/general_provisions/index_en.htm

EU legislation: General environmental legislation

The Sixth Environment Action Programme, which was adopted in July 2002, sets out the EU's priorities for the period to 2010. Four areas are singled out for priority action: climate change, nature and biodiversity, the environment and health, and the management of natural resources and waste. EU environment policy is guided by the precautionary principle and the "polluter pays" principle. Various institutional, financial and management instruments are available to ensure that it is implemented effectively. The involvement of the general public is also a key part of environment policy.

POLICY FRAMEWORK

• Sixth Environment Action Programme

• Environment Policy Review - 2008

• 2007 Environment Policy Review

• 2006 Environment Policy Review

• 2005 Environment Policy Review

• 2004 Environmental Policy Review

• 2003 environment policy review

TRANSVERSAL POLICY OBJECTIVES

• Integrated product policy

• Environment and health strategy

• The European Union Ecolabel

• Sustainable Consumption, Production and Industry Action Plan

ORGANISATIONS AND AGENCIES

• European Environment Agency

• Scientific Committees for consumer safety, public health and the environment

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING

• Towards a Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS)

• European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR)

• Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES)

• Infrastructure for Spatial Information (INSPIRE)

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT • General Obligations

– Environmental liability - Directive – The precautionary principle – Assessment of the effects of plans and programmes on the environment

(SEA Directive) – Assessment of the environmental impact of projects – Assessment of the environmental impact of projects - reportArchives – Environmental inspections: minimum criteria – Community guidelines on State aid for environmental protection

• Management instruments • A programme for clean and competitive SMEs

– Environmental agreements – Eco-labelArchives – Integration of environmental aspects into European standardisation

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

• Market-based instruments for the environment

• LIFE+: a financial instrument for the environment

• State aid for environmental protection

• The operational priorities of the European Investment Bank

• Environmental taxes and charges

APPLICATION AND CONTROL OF

COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL LAW • Access to information, public participation and access to justice in

environmental matters • The application of the Århus Convention to the Community

institutions • Freedom of access to information • Access to justice in environmental matters • Protection of the environment through criminal law • Implementation of Community environmental law in 2004 • Implementation of Community environmental law in 2003 • Implementation of Community environmental law in 2002 • The application of Community environmental legislation (2000-2001) • Implementation and monitoring of the application of Community

legislation on the environment (1998-1999) • Implementation and enforcement of Community environmental law

(1996-1997)