| Author (Corporate) | European Commission |
|---|---|
| Series Title | COM |
| Series Details | (2018) 10 final (18.01.18) |
| Publication Date | 18/01/2018 |
| Content Type | Policy-making |
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Background and further information: This Communication presents an Action Plan to increase compliance with EU environmental law and improve environmental governance. It involves the Commission working hand in hand with Member States and professionals such as inspectors, auditors, police officers and prosecutors in order to create a smart and collaborative culture of compliance with EU environmental rules on activities such as industrial production, waste disposal and agriculture. The EU already has an extensive body of mature environmental legislation. However, there are major challenges to its implementation, as highlighted in the Commission’s Environmental Implementation Review (EIR). These are linked to persistent environmental problems such as diffuse water pollution, poor urban air quality, unsatisfactory waste treatment, and species and habitats in decline. There is also a serious incidence of environmental crime, and a high number of environmental complaints to the Commission and petitions to the European Parliament. The costs of non-implementation are estimated at €50 billion per year. Many benefits can be obtained through improved implementation without creating new legislation. This requires, amongst other things, compliance with environmental rules on the ground, i.e. industry, utilities, landowners and other ‘duty-holders’ fulfilling environmental obligations concerning their activities. Obligations may be in the form of prohibitions, general binding rules, permits and other measures put in place to protect the environment, public health and society’s long-term resource needs. Weak mechanisms for securing compliance and effective governance at national, regional and local level are among the causes of implementation failure. They are also a factor in unfair competition and economic harm such as loss of tax revenue, and undermine public confidence in the effectiveness of EU laws. This Communication aims to strengthen such mechanisms. The European Commission published a Communication on 18 January 2018 presenting an Action Plan to increase compliance with EU environmental law and improve environmental governance. It preceded a Ministerial meeting on Air Quality, held on 30 January. It was used to give Member States facing infringement procedures on these matters a new chance to address the problem. |
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| Source Link | http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2018:010:FIN |
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| Subject Categories | Environment |
| Countries / Regions | Europe |
