18.3.86 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 63/1 
I 
(Information) 
COUNCIL 
COUNCIL RESOLUTION 
of 6 March 1986 
on an action programme for the European year of the environment (1987) 
(86/C 63/01) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, 
Having regard to the draft from the Commission, 
Whereas environmental protection must become a more 
important aspect of the different policies of the 
Community and its Member States, in particular 
economic, industrial, agricultural and social policies; 
whereas it could thereby contribute to better economic 
growth and help to create jobs; 
Whereas the European Council on 29 and 30 March 
1985 called for the years to come to be marked by 
significant progress in Community action for the 
protection of the environment in Europe and throughout 
the world, whereas, with this aim in view, the European 
Council has designated 1987 as the 'European Year of 
the Environment'; 
Whereas such progress requires active support not only 
from Governments and Parliaments but from society as a 
whole and all its members; Whereas it is appropriate, during the European Year of 
the Environment, to organize and promote a programme 
of events and activities aimed in particular at raising 
public awareness about protecting and improving the 
environment; 
SUPPORTS the objectives and guidelines of the action 
programme for the European Year of the Environment 
(March 1987-March 1988), as described in the Annex; 
NOTES the arrangements for financing the programme 
as described in the Annex; 
NOTES that the Commission will take appropriate steps 
to implement the programme, in particular with regard 
to co-ordination; 
CALLS ON the different bodies in the Member States to 
take appropriate steps to implement the programme; 
REQUESTS the Commission to keep it regularly 
informed on progress and to submit a final report on the 
implementation of the programme both to it and to the 
European Parliament. 
ANNEX 
ACTION PROGRAMME FOR THE EUROPEAN YEAR OF THE ENVIRONMENT 
(March 1987 to March 1988) 
I. OBJECTIVES 
The objectives of the European Year of the Environment are to: 
— make all Community citizens aware of the importance of environmental protection and, with that 
aim in view, carry out specific model environmental protection projects; 
— promote better incorporation and integration of environmental protection policy in the different 
policies of the Community and its Member States, in particular economic, industrial, agricultural 
and social policies; 
— emphasize the European dimension of environment policy; 
— demonstrate the progress already made and the achievements realized by Community environment 
policy since its inception. 
No C 63/2 Official Journal of the European Communities 18.3.86 
II. ACTIVITIES TO BE UNDERTAKEN 
From a Community viewpoint, and in order to achieve the objectives referred to in part I, the following 
activities will be undertaken, in conjunction with the Member States' national committees: 
1. General awareness compaigns 
The Community will launch awareness campaigns, preferably centred on a limited number of key 
topics and directed at various sectors of society, notably the worlds of education, science and 
industry, and national, regional and local authorities. 
These activities will include information campaigns in the different media (TV, radio, films press) 
and other networks (schools, arts centres for example), conferences, prizes, distribution of publicity 
material, etc. 
2. Model environmental protection pilot projects 
The Community will support the carrying out in the Member States of specific projects which can 
serve as examples and models in the field of environmental protection, the rational management of 
natural resources and the development of new technologies. 
3. Pilot projects to improve monitoring of the quality of the environment 
The Community will support model projects aimed at improving monitoring of the quality of the 
environment in the Member States and at determining whether the objectives of Community 
environment policy are being achieved. The projects will relate in particular to training and 
equipping staff to carry out the monitoring work. 
III. ORGANIZATION 
The European Year of the Environment will be organized with the help of the following committees: 
1. Committee of patrons 
This Committee will consist of eminent public figures known in the Member States for their 
commitment to environmental protection. 
2. Advisory Steering Committee 
This Committee will be chaired by the Commission and will comprise the chairmen of the national 
Committees and representative public figures from the fields concerned. 
The Steering Committee will be responsible for the general coordination of the programme and 
ensure coherence between all the various activities to be carried out, referred to in part II. 
3. National Committees 
A Committee will be set up in each Member State, composed of members representing the various 
fields concerned by environmental protection. Its chief task will be to promote, support and 
implement national projects organized for the European Year of the Environment in the State 
concerned. 
It will also be able to collect and administer private or public funds made available to it by various 
groups and bodies. 
In particular it will be required to identify projects as mentioned in part II that are suitable for 
Community financing and to suggest any appropriate event or activity within the framework of the 
European Year of the Environment. 
IV. FINANCING 
The action programme, which will last until March 1988, will be financed at Community level out of 
appropriations from the General Budget of the European Communities. 
In pursuance of this, recourse will be had: 
— in respect of activities referred to under part II (1) to the appropriations provided for in Article 666 
of the General Budget of the European Communities; 
— in respect of the pilot projects referred to under part II (2) and II (3) to the various funds already 
available to the Community (e.g. European Regional Development Fund, European Social Fund, 
European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund, Guidance Section); the use of appropriations 
from these funds will be in accordance with the fund rules applicable.