Guidelines for LIFE-environment demonstration projects

Pursuant to article 4, paragraph 4, of Regulation (EC) No 1655/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Financial Instrument for the Environment (LIFE)

(2000/C 308/02)

On 17 July 2000, the European Parliament and the Council adopted the Regulation (EC) No 1655/2000 concerning the Financial Instrument for the Environment (LIFE). This Regulation is the new legal basis for the third step of the LIFE instrument, from 2000 to 2004, and will be referred to in this document as "the new LIFE Regulation" or "the Regulation".

On ..., the European Commission established the guidelines for the demonstration projects to be submitted in the frame of LIFE-environment.

In article 4 relating to LIFE-environment, the new LIFE Regulation provides that guidelines concerning the demonstration projects shall be established, in order to promote synergy between demonstration actions and the guiding principles of Community environmental policy with a view to sustainable development(1). This document sets out the required guidelines in the European Union or in the accession candidate countries who have concluded specific agreements for this purpose. For 2000-2001, the candidate countries participating in LIFE are Estonia, Latvia, Hungary, Romania and Slovenia.

The first part of this document recalls the main features of the LIFE instrument as set out in the Regulation, and of the component of LIFE known as LIFE-environment. The second part elaborates on the five themes provided by the Regulation for demonstration projects, highlighting the Community policy objectives relating to these themes, explaining how LIFE-environment demonstration projects can contribute to these objectives and indicating other Community funding allocated to similar themes or to the same themes with different policy objectives.

In addition to these guidelines, an information brochure providing practical guidance for application to LIFE-environment is available on the LIFE website at the following address: http://europa.eu.int/comm/life/envir/infopk/index-en.htm

1. MAIN FEATURES OF LIFE AND LIFE-ENVIRONMENT

1.1. Scope of LIFE

1. The general objective of LIFE is to contribute to the implementation, updating and development of Community environment policy and of environmental legislation, in particular regarding the integration of the environment into other policies, and to sustainable development in the Community.

2. LIFE is a financial instrument for three major areas of action: nature, environment, and third countries. While all three areas aim to improve the environment, each has its specific priorities.

(a) LIFE-nature relates to actions aimed at the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora of EU interest.

(b) LIFE-environment relates to innovative demonstration actions for economic activities and local authorities as well as preparatory actions to support community legislation and policies.

(c) LIFE-third countries relates to technical assistance to third countries bordering the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas.

3. A financial framework of EUR 640 million is provided for the third phase of LIFE (2000-2004), of which 47 % is earmarked for LIFE-environment, 47 % for LIFE-nature and 6 % for LIFE-third countries.

1.2. LIFE-environment

1. The specific objective of LIFE-environment is to contribute to the development of innovative and integrated techniques and methods and to the further development of Community environment policy.

2. To achieve this objective, LIFE-environment focuses on two different types of projects: demonstration projects and preparatory projects.

3. These guidelines are aimed at demonstration projects only. The preparatory projects will be called for separately by the Commission on an ad-hoc basis.

4. LIFE-environment demonstration projects should further the objective set out in paragraph 1 above and one of the following specific objectives:

(a) Land-use development and planning: integrate considerations on the environment and on sustainable development in land-use development and planning, including in urban and coastal areas(2); or

(b) Water management: promote the sustainable management of groundwater and surface water; or

(c) Impacts of economic activities: minimise the environmental impacts of economic activites, notably through the development of clean technologies and by placing the emphasis on prevention, including the reduction of emission of gases having a greenhouse effect; or

(d) Waste management: prevent, reuse, recover and recycle waste of all kind and ensure the sound management of waste streams; or

(e) Integrated product policy: reduce the environmental impact of products through an integrated approach to production, distribution, consumption and handling at the end of their lifetime, including the development of environmentally friendly products.

5. Demonstration projects must set out to test an innovative solution to an environmental problem and lead to concrete, practical results of the project. They must be implemented at a scale that allows evaluation of the technical and economic viability of large-scale introduction of this solution.

6. LIFE-environment is not directed at research or investment in existing technology or infrastructure. LIFE-environment aims to bridge the gap between research and development results and widespread implementation.

To this end, demonstration projects based on the results of successful projects supported in the framework of past and ongoing RTD programmes in the field of environment are encouraged.

2. GUIDELINES FOR DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS

1. As stated, the LIFE Regulation under LIFE-environment addresses five thematic areas (see 1.2, paragraph 4 above), which relate to various policy fields, initiatives and legislation within the Community environmental policy. The purpose of the following guidelines is to introduce these policy fields to potential applicants, to indicate the main objectives of the Community policy in these fields and to provide references to relevant Community legislation.

2. The projects financed by LIFE shall be of Community interest. They should contribute to the development, implementation and updating of Community environment policy and of environmental legislation, in particular with respect to the integration of the environment legislation, in particular with respect to the integration of the environment into other policies, and to sustainable development in the Community. The potential applicants should therefore be aware of the main legislation and policy developments relevant for LIFE, hence the purpose of these guidelines.

3. Although the guidelines are indicative in nature, they give a good insight into the Community environment policy and of environmental legislation to which projects should contribute. It is not, however, a prerequisite that project proposals should adhere to these guidelines to be selected. This selection will be based on the comparative merit of proposals, according to the criteria defined in the LIFE Regulation.

4. Where appropriate, reference has been made to other Community programmes operating on similar themes. These references are not exhaustive. Applicants may wish to verify if the objectives of other Community programmes correspond better to their project.

5. For more information on the European environmental policy and on other Community programmes, applicants are invited to refer to the documents indicated in footnotes, and to the Europa website at the following address: http://www.europa.eu.int/

2.1. Land-use development and planning

1. This section refers to the first thematic area: the integration of considerations on the environment and on sustainable development into land-use development and planning, including urban and coastal areas.

2. A major objective of LIFE-environment is to fund projects which, as good examples, may, at a later stage, influence the design of regional policies, including the Community Structural Funds, the Cohesion Fund and the Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre-Accession for Candidate Countries.

3. For this purpose, proposals are encouraged from organisations directly responsible for land-use management (including local authorities) and which involve the contribution of members of the public in local decisions are well as the contribution of all relevant social and economic participants.

4. Other Community funds in this field: Community initiative programmes (Interreg(3), Leader(4) and URBAN(5)) as well as the European Regional Development Fund(6) as regards innovative actions.

5. Within the thematic area of land-use development and planning, the policy fields of urban environment, quality of air and noise abatement and integrated coastal zone management are subject to the development of new initiatives or legislation. Demonstration projects proposals in these fields would, therefore, be welcome.

2.1.1. Urban environment

1. In October 1998 the Commission adopted a communication including a framework of actions for a sustainable urban development in the European Union(7). This Communication indicates the guiding principles of a future Community policy in this field, and emphasises the need for an integrated approach to environment management and land-use development and planning: this necessitates coordinating existing initiatives and aligning them with the principles of sustainable development and of local Agenda 21.

2. Within this framework, the following projects are encouraged:

(a) Those aimed at combining the use of several types of instruments (regulatory, economical, fiscal, information) in order to promote the integration of environment into economic and social policies of local authorities.

(b) Those aimed at featuring and reducing the ecological footprint(8) of cities or other sustainability concepts such as environmental space(9).

(c) Those pursuing several environmental objectives through land-use planning.

3. Other Community funds in this field: fifth framework programe of research and technological development (5th FP), key-action "City of tomorrow and cultural heritage"(10). Specific demonstration projects on cultural heritage will not be considered a priority under LIFE-environment.

4. In cities where a programme is planned or implemented under the Community initiative URBAN(11), potential applicants shall seek to integrate their environmental project in this framework rather than proposing an isolated project to LIFE-environment.

2.1.2. Quality of air and noise abatement

1. During the last decade, the concentration of sulphur dioxide in ambient air has been considerably reduced, thanks to efforts made by industry and the energy sector. Although Auto-oil II is expected to have positive results, concentrations of nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, ozone and particles are a matter of concern in most European towns, and can be the subject of demonstration projects.

2. The role of LIFE-environment in this field is to support the framework Directive on ambient air quality(12). This Directive obliges communities of more than 250000 inhabitants and areas subject to high levels of pollution, to define and implement action programmes aimed at improving the ambient air quality. LIFE-environment can support the most innovative measures included in programmes addressing the objectives of the Directive, or those that are necessary to launch, monitor and evaluate the results of these programmes.

3. In addition, LIFE-environment welcomes demonstration projects aimed at validating new methods of air-quality monitoring and those raising public awareness such as bio-indicators(13).

4. In November 1996 the Commission issued a green paper(14) designed to launch a debate on a future policy on noise reduction. The projects proposed in this field, could address in particular the following themes:

(a) validation at European scale of indicators of exposure to noise and simulation of potential effects of decisions in land-use planning;

(b) innovative strategies of public information based on an adequate mapping of noise levels,

(c) decision support systems, design of plans for noise reduction in urban areas, monitoring and evaluation of results of policies in this field.

5. The impact of transport on the quality of air and on the level of noise can also be the subject of demonstration projects. Projects might include initiatives concerning sustainable mobility, management of transit and sustainability of air transport.

6. Other Community funds in this field: 5th FP, competitive and sustainable grouwth programme, key action "Sustainable mobility and intermodality", "City of tomorrow and cultural heritage"(15).

2.1.3. Integrated coastal zone management

1. Coastal areas and their natural resources (marine and terrestrial) are plagued by increasing conflicts between users, and institutional and policy problems that are resulting in their progressive and sometimes irreversible degradation.

2. Based on the results of the demonstration programme(16) implemented from 1995 to 1999, the European Commission is considering the development of a European strategy for integrated coastal zone management (ICZM). This strategy could focus on the following principles, providing that sustainable management of the coastal zones must:

(a) be based on an integrated territorial approach that considers all the human and natural systems influencing the coastal zone, and works with natural processes;

(b) use participatory planning to develop consensus, ensuring namely the involvement of all relevant bodies and the different administrative and territorial levels including the regional dimension when necessary;

(c) use a combination of instruments (regulatory and economical, voluntary agreements, technical solutions, information, research and education);

(d) ensure that decisions taken are compatible with the specific local conditions and do not foreclose options for the future.

3. LIFE-environment can support this policy by funding projects implementing these principles. Projects are particularly welcomed in areas where there are multiple and conflicting uses of the coastal zone, or where the coastal zone is experiencing a rapid increase of (permanent and/or seasonal) population or a major shift in land use.

2.2. Water management

1. This section refers to the second thematic area: the promotion of the sustainable management of groundwater and surface water.

2. Water resources are still subject to high stress both in qualitative and quantitative terms. The report of the European Environment Agency(17) (environment in the European Union at the turn of the century, June 1999) highlights the progress that has been made, especially in northern Europe, with regard to addressing the pollution from organic matter and phosphates. Yet, the eutrophication of coastal and some marine waters due to high nitrates concentrations in surface waters remains a concern, as well as the nitrates contamination of groundwater mainly due to diffuse sources from agriculture.

3. Proposals addressing the following themes are encouraged:

(a) Water management at the river basin level: LIFE-environment is designed to support the future water framework Directive(18). Projects shall aim at testing the realisation of global and concerted action at river basin level, i.e. actions concerning all waters in the river basin (surface freshwaters, groundwater, transitional waters, coastal waters, interactions between water bodies) and involving all relevant participants.

(b) Groundwater protection: Demonstration of innovative methods of groundwater management and rehabilitation, including monitoring and reduction of pollutants, interaction with surface waters, reduction of demand, solving of use conflicts and prevention of ecological damage due in particular to diffuse sources of pollution.

(c) Wastewater treatment: There is a need for demonstration projects addressing problems specific to small communities and individual or semi-collective treatment systems. Projects aiming at wastewater reuse after treatment and reuse of agricultural drainage waters are also welcomed. Collective wastewater treatment systems can be considered if important technical innovations are to be demonstrated.

(d) Prevention and reduction of diffuse and dispersed sources of pollution of water: There is a need for innovation and demonstration of good practices in the fields of agriculture and land-use planning, and for the evaluation of the positive impact of these practices on the environment. For example, the techniques of buffer zones, with plantations limiting the run-off of diffused pollution into surface water bodies, could be usefully tested and evaluated.

(e) Planning and organisational aspects of water management: projects can aim to address the following long-term challenges:

- the effects of land use on flood risks and on quality and quantity of waters,

- the combined quality/quantity effects (concentration of pollutants in low flows, river basin continuum and upstream/downstream effects of intervention changing flow regime and volumes),

- the conflicting uses of water between agriculture, tourism, industry and local consumers,

- the economic and social aspects of water demand,

- the deterioration of large transnational water bodies or severe acidification.

4. Other Community funds in this field: 5th FP, competitive and sustainable growth programme(19), energy, environment and sustainable development programme, in particular key actions "Sustainable management and quality of water", "Sustainable marine ecosystems"(20), Community initiative Intereg(21).

2.3. Impacts of economic activities

1. This section refers to the third thematic area: the minimisation of the environmental impacts of economic activities, notably through the development of clean technologies and by placing the emphasis on prevention, including the reduction of emission of gases having a greenhouse effect.

2. Within this thematic area, the following policy fields relate to important initiatives and legislation in the course of implementation. Demonstration projects proposals in these fields would therefore, be welcome.

2.3.1. Clean technologies

1. Clean technologies are new industrial processes or modifications in existing processes aimed at reducing the impact on the environment and reducing the consumption of energy and raw material.

2. In this field, LIFE-environment in particular encourages projects either proposed by small and medium-sized enterprises from all industrial sectors or involving them closely, in order to support them in addressing technical and financial obstacles to the development of these technologies.

3. In addition, LIFE-environment seeks to support the implementation of the Directive related to the integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC)(22). This Directive will require operators in several industrial and non-industrial sectors (listed in Annex I of the Directive) to conform to consumption and emission standards based on the implementation of the best available techniques (BATs) as described in reference documents to be established by the IPPC bureau in Seville, Spain. Projects presented to LIFE in sectors where reference documents have been adopted should clearly describe the degree of innovation in comparison with techniques described as BATs in these documents. Projects presented in sectors where reference documents have not yet been drafted should aim to provide as far as possible the type of information in relation to the BATs listed in Annex IV of the Directive.

4. Other Community funds in this field: 5th FP, competitive and sustainable growth programme, key action "Innovative products, processes and organisation"(23).

2.3.2. Integrated environment management

1. The Community policy in this field supports the continuous improved of the environmental performances of enterprises, beyond and in the absence of regulatory requirements through the whole chain of industrial productions and encourages the dissemination of good practices in relation to environmental management.

2. The Community system of environmental management and audit(24) (EMAS) is under revision and is to be opened to non-industrial sectors, including the public sector. LIFE environment welcomes proposals, in particular in these non-industrial sectors, in order to support the implementation of the new EMAS Regulation. LIFE-environment would also welcome projects aimed at supporting the implementation of EMAS in countries and in sectors where the participation is low or could be improved(25).

3. LIFE-environment may also fund pilot projects going beyond environmental management so as to include aspects of sustainable development, perhaps leading to the development of sustainability audit schemes.

2.3.3. Reduction of emission of gases having a greenhouse effect

1. The Kyoto Protocol, adopted in December 1997, fixes quantitative objectives for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions(26) for industrialised countries. For its part, the European Community committed itself to reducing emission by 8 % between 2008 and 2012 compared to the level of emissions for 1990.

2. Apart from policies and measures targeted at the economic sectors from which greenhouse gases emissions originate, the Kyoto Protocol provides for the implementation of flexibility mechanisms. The best known of these mechanisms is the international trading system for rights to emit gases having a greenhouse effect. The Protocol also however provides for the development of activities and projects which make it possible to reduce gases having a greenhouse effect or reinforce their absorption by carbon sinks. The reductions resulting from these activities or projects would be considered additional reductions, over and above the reduction, which would normally occur in the absence of these activities or projects.

3. In order to contribute to this approach, LIFE-environment encourages projects which develop innovative techniques or methods to make greenhouse gases reduction possible, notably in the sectors of industry, energy, transport, agriculture, including forestry, and waste management. Projects in the above sectors concerning exclusively energy savings are not encouraged as this aspect is covered by other Community instruments. The project proposals should quantify the emission reduction, and demonstrate that this reduction would not occur in the absence of this project.

4. Other Community funds in this field: 5th FP, key actions "Global change, climate and biodiversity"(27), "Cleaner energy systems, including renewable energies"(28).

2.3.4. Sustainable tourism

1. Projects presented to LIFE-environment in this field should focus on the development of environmentally friendly tourism activities by all relevant stakeholders.

2. Projects particularly encouraged include:

(a) Demonstration projects aimed at a more accurate assessment of the impact of tourism on the environment and the demonstration of solutions within its carrying capacity and eco-system resilience.

(b) The development and testing of appropriate environmental indicators for measuring the performance of tourist enterprises and destinations as well as the demonstration of integrated assessment methods that involve all relevant stakeholders.

(c) Experimental application of environmental management and eco-labelling methodologies to all sectors of tourism, enterprises and destinations, involving local authorities when relevant.

(d) Demonstration projects including experimental application of economic instruments, aimed at integrating the environmental dimension in the most sensitive components of tourism (transport, land-use, waste, water, energy resources).

(e) Innovative techniques and methods for the rehabilitation of identified declining tourist sites affected by mass tourism, with a view to implementing strategic and integrated planning that will help prevent and remedy that decline, in respect of the polluter-pays principle.

(f) Demonstration projects aimed at reducing the pressures generated by tourist flows in peak seasons and at peak times through inter alia, fostering cooperation and raising awareness between relevant stakeholders.

(g) Demonstration projects aimed at innovative approaches to implementing environmental quality benchmarking in both enterprises and destinations.

2.4. Waste management

1. This section refers to the fourth thematic area provided in the LIFE Regulation for LIFE-environment demonstration projects: prevention, reuse, recovering and recycling of waste of all kinds and sound management of waste streams.

2. In July 1996, the Commission adopted a Communication on an updated Community strategy for waste management(29). Priority is given in the following order, firstly to the prevention of waste generation, then to the recovery of waste in its triple dimension (reuse, recycling and energy recovery) and lastly to the safe disposal of waste (which is mainly carried out by waste incineration without energy recovery and landfill of waste). Within the recovery concept, where environmentally sound, preference should in general be given to recycling (including the composting and anaerobic digestion of biodegradable waste) over energy recovery from waste.

3. Moreover, Community policy gives particular attention to streams of waste regarded as important because of hazardousness or volume.

4. The need for demonstration actions in this field is in the same order of priority as the overall strategy: first innovative techniques and methods preventing the generation of all kinds of waste, then recycling techniques and management methods aimed in particular at the waste streams indicated below. Projects solely related to collection or final disposal of waste should be submitted only if important innovations are demonstrated.

5. Other Community funds in this field: 5th FP, key actions "Innovative products, processes and organisation"(30). and "City of tomorrow and cultural heritage"(31).

2.4.1. Packaging and plastics

1. The priority requirement is to reduce the production of packaging waste at the source. As such, LIFE-environment welcomes projects addressing the reuse of packaging, for materials other than glass. Projects on recycling packaging materials, including biodegradable plastics, are also welcomed.

2. As regards plastics, source collection would be preferable to complex sorting of mixed plastics. Projects on plastics marking, supporting source collection, are encouraged.

3. As regard plastics recycling, special attention should be given to the quality and uses and market outlets of the end product, the long-term durability of the product, the ability to be recycled at the end of its lifecycle, and the minimisation of the addition of new polymer resin in the recycling process. Projects presented concerning PVC should promote the recycling - mechanically, chemically (feedstock), or otherwise - while avoiding the addition of additives containing heavy metals, and, if appropriate, promoting the separation of heavy metals from the PVC polymer. These principals should also apply for other plastics containing heavy metal additives.

2.4.2. Hazardous or problematic waste

1. The selective collection of waste is often a prerequisite to its treatment or recycling. Projects aimed at optimising this collection or developing it for problematic waste which is not yet selectively collected are welcomed.

2. Projects developing recycling techniques are also welcomed, in particular for the following waste streams: electrical and electronic equipment waste, batteries and accumulators, used oils, used tyres and end-of-life vehicles.

2.4.3. Waste important in volume

1. Construction and demolition waste - projects addressing the selective demolition and source selection of construction waste are encouraged. LIFE-environment will also support the transforming granulates from demolition waste into concrete.

2. Sludge from waste water treatment plants - projects fostering the secure use of sludge or sludge derived products in soil improvement are encouraged, as well as projects experimenting with alternative ways to recycle sludge.

3. Biodegradable waste - a key aspect of this kind of project is source separation of waste. There is a particular need for projects focused on improving the quality of compost.

2.5. Integrated product policy

1. This section refers to the fifth thematic area: the reduction of the environmental impact of products through an integrated approach to production, distribution, consumption and handling at the end of their lifetime, including the development of environmentally friendly products.

2. The integrated product policy is a relatively new field of the Community environment policy, aimed at considering the whole lifecycle of products.

3. The development of green or ecological products which meet the objective of incorporating environmental requirements in their design and use requires profound changes in production and consumption habits.

4. Within this thematic area therefore, the following areas are of particular relevance for LIFE-environment, and projects in these fields are welcomed.

2.5.1. Eco-design, eco-efficiency, green financial products

1. Ecological design of products (eco-design) takes into account the lifecycle of products in order to reduce the impacts on the environment throughout this cycle (including raw materials, production, distribution, use and handling as waste).

2. Eco-efficiency is a concept based on reducing the intensity with which resources are used in economic activities, i.e. the direct and indirect global impact on natural resources in the form of matter or energy. One result of this approach may be that a service is found to be a more sustainable way of meeting a particular need than the direct consumption of goods.

3. There is a need for demonstration projects in this field with the aim of developing the use of eco-design and of the concept of eco-efficiency, to disseminate information on eco-designed products, to assess the impact of this information on production and consumption habits. Special attention should be paid to involving SMEs in such approach.

4. The technical support required for the development of green financial products (investment funds, credit or insurance facilities linked to environmental criteria) may also be the subject of demonstration projects.

5. Other Community funds in this field: 5th FP, key action "Innovative products, processes and organisation"(32).

2.5.2. Eco-labelling and environmental labelling

1. Projects focused on the promotion of existing eco-labels (type I), their dissemination by creation of partnerships and networking are welcomed.

2. Similarly, the projects can concern the environmental information certified by independent experts, linked with the new standard ISO 14025(33) (type III, eco-profile labels, product datasheets).

3. Furthermore, the labelling of services is of interest to Community policy, particularly the initiatives concerning services related to products according to the objectives of the new Community Eco-label Regulation(34) and the new developments of the ISO 14024 standard (type I labels) on services.

(1) Sustainable development is meant in its three environmental, economic and social dimensions.

(2) An integrated and coherent territorial approach according to the different local and regional levels concerned should be taken into account.

(3) Communication from the Commission to the Member States of 28 April 2000 laying down guidelines for a Community initiative concerning trans-European cooperation intended to encourage harmonious and balanced development of the European territory, Interreg III (OJ C 143, 23.5.2000).

(4) Commission Notice to the Member States of 14 April 2000 laying down guidelines for the Community initiative for rural development Leader + (OJ C 139, 18.5.2000).

(5) Communication from the Commission to the Member States of 28 April 2000 laying down guidelines for a Community initiative concerning economic and social regeneration of cities and of neighbourhoods in crisis in order to promote sustainable urban development URBAN II (OJ C 141, 19.5.2000).

(6) European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) No 1783/1999 (OJ L 213, 13.8.1999).

(7) COM(98) 605 final.

(8) The ecological footprint is the area of productive land required to support the resource consumption and waste assimilation needs of a given population, wherever that land may be located.

(9) The environmental space refers to the resources available for consumption today without compromising the availability of the same quantities and qualities of resources to future generation.

(10) Council Decision 1999/170/CE (OJ L 64, 12.3.1999).

(11) Guidelines for the Community initiative Urban: COM(1999) 477 final.

(12) Council Directive 96/62/CE (OJ L 296, 21.11.1996).

(13) Bio-indicators are organisms or communities of organisms reacting under environmental influence with changes in their life functions and/or their chemical structure and therefore make it possible to conclude on the state of the environment.

(14) COM(96) 540 final.

(15) Council Decision 1999/169/EC (OJ L 64, 12.3.1999).

(16) COM(95) 511 final.

(17) European Environment Agency , Information Centre , Kongens Nytorv 6 , DK - 1050 Copenhagen K.

(18) Commission proposal 97/49 final, (OJ C 184, 17.6.1997), last modified 99/271.

(19) Council Decision 1999/169/EC (OJ L 64, 12.3.1999).

(20) Council Decision 1999/170/EC (OJ L 64, 12.3.1999).

(21) Guidelines for the Community initiative Interreg: COM(1999) 479 final.

(22) Directive 96/61/EC (OJ L 257, 10.10.1996).

(23) Council Decision 1999/169/EC (OJ L 64, 12.3.1999).

(24) Regulation (EEC) No 1836/93 (OJ L 168, 10.7.1993, proposed revision 98/622 (OJ C 400, 22.12.1998).

(25) Statistics per country and per sector can be obtained from the EMAS Help Desk, c/o Bradley Dunbar Associates, Scotland House, Rond-Point Schuman 6, B-1040 Brussels.

(26) The six greenhouse gases aimed at in Annex A to the Kyoto Protocol are the following: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), fluorinated hydrocarbon (HFC), perfluorinated hydrocarbon (PFC) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6).

(27) Council Decision 1999/170/EC (OJ L 64, 12.3.1999).

(28) Council Decision 1999/170/EC (OJ L 64, 12.3.1999).

(29) COM(96) 399 final.

(30) Council Decision 1999/169/EC (OJ L 64, 12.3.1999).

(31) Council Decision 1999/170/EC (OJ L 64, 12.3.1999).

(32) Council Decision 1999/169/EC (OJ L 64, 12.3.1999).

(33) International Organization for Standardization (ISO) , 1, rue de Varembé , Case postale 56 , CH - 1211 Genève 20.

(34) New Regulation on the basis of a Common Position (EC) No 6/2000 adopted by the Council on 11 November 1999, not yet published on 20 July 2000. Information provided in the Community Eco-label homepage http://europa.eu.int/ecolabel.