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Vol. 1985/0 230 
  
 
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In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom  1. 
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COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
C0HC85) 639 final  
Brussels, 19 November 1985
DRAFT COUNCIL RESOLUTION  
adopting an action programme for  
the european year of the environment
(submitted by the Commission to the Council)
C0M(85) 639 final

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
The European Council, at its meeting on 29/30 March 1985, decided that  
1987 should be designated the European Year of the Environment.
2. Following this decision the Commission has made finance available in  
the 1985 Budget to enable planning work - including the preparation of an  
overall Community strategy and individual national strategies for each  
Member State - to be put in hand at once.
3. The majority of the necesssary preparatory work will, however fall to  
be undertaken during 1986, in cooperation with a Steering Committee,  
chaired by the Commission and with National Committees, in each Member  
State. To this end the Commission indicated 10 million ECU for the  
European Year of the Environment (EYE) in its 1986 Budget proposals -  
Budget Line 666.
4. In designating 1987 as the European Year of the Environment the  
European Council did so in the context of its views that: -
i. environment policy must be integrated as an essential component of  
the economic, industrial, agricultural and social policies of the  
Community and its Member States;
ii. environment policy can contribute to improved economic growth and to  
job creation.
5. It is a valid question to ask why environment policy has not long ago  
been fully accepted as a central element of all economic and social  
policies; and as an economically positive element. The reason is simple -  
that it sometimes involves extra costs in the short-term. In the  
longer-term there are often profits from strong environmental policies.  
And almost always it is cheaper to prevent problems rather than to cure  
them after they have arisen and the environment has deteriorated.
6= The economic analysis (whether of individuals or of companies) is  
normally short-term. The European Council has taker a longer-term view.  
The task - the challenge - for EYE is to convince the rest of our  
societies to take a similar longei— term view. The challenge that faces us  
therefore is to change attitudes - at all levels of societies - so that  
environmental protection may increasingly be seen as something that must  
be given a central place in all our actions.
7. The Commission also recognises that Environment policy must be formula  
ted and implemented in a way which helps the completion of the internal  
market to which the European Council is committed.
3. The challenge is thus a large one. Results can only be achieved by a  
major effort that - one way or another - reaches every citizen in the  
Community. This is therefore not a "Year" like other "Years". It has to  
be much bigger in scope - because the field in which it must seek results  
is extremely large — no less than all economic and social sectors as the  
European Council stressed.
9. Accordingly a significant budget is necessary if adequate results are 
to be achieved. The Commission must (through National Committees and  
otherwise) ensure that throughout EYE a series of events takes place in  
all Member States which can catch the imagination of everyone in our  
societies: -

i
10. The Commission has outline plans which will respond to this large  
challenge. What is needed now is to develop them in detail; seek and take  
advice; consult widely; launch competitions which can engage the interest  
of all concerned groups ~ of all individuals. To do this necessitates  
funds - to launch matters. The Commission is convinced, however, that  
tnese funds will be merely the seed corn. There will certainly be a very  
high degree of response; companies will be willing to contribute  
financially; commercial opportunities will arise. So the budget which  
the Commission has asked for in 1986 should be seen as something that can  
generate much greater economic benefits throughout society.
11. The Commission believes it is essential to face up to the challenge  
t,esented by the European Council. Attitudes will not be changed (as  
:.eeded) without a major effort to convince everyone of the vital
nportance of strong environmental policies being built in as central  
elements to thinking in all fields. The Commission has explained its more  
detailed thinking in a short memorandum which was circulated during the  
Summer to all Permanent Representatives; a copy is attached at Annex I.
12. if EYE is to be a success it is urgently necessary that the  
Commission (in close cooperation with the Member States) should be given  
i.'thority to make the necessary preparations and to commit funds. The  
Commission therefore stresses the need for decisions of principle on the  
procedures to be followed during the Environment Council meeting of  
28 November 1985.
13. At Annex II is a draft Council Resolution which proposes a framework  
for the provision, utilisation and control of the financial resources  
which, in the Commission's view, are needed if an adequate response is to  
be generated to the European Council's demand. The framework proposed  
provides, at one and the same time, the possibility of rapid decision  
taking and action, but coupled with an adequate degree of information and  
control by both the Council and the Parliament.

ANNEX I
THE EUROPEAN YEAR O F THE ENVIRONMENT, 1987
INTRODUCTION
1. The European Council/ at its meeting in Brussels on 29/30 March 1985,K  
decided that 1987 should be designated European Year of the Environment.
2. In doing so the European Council at the same- time affirmed its
determination to give environmental protection policy the dimension of an  
essential component of the economic/ industrial/ agricultural and social  
policies implemented by the Community and by its Member States. It also  
stressed that environmental protection policy can contribute to improved  
economic growth and job creation.
3. The European Council thus reiterated apd strongly reinforced the
*  9preventive approach to environmental protection which Community  
environmental poiicy has adopted over the years; and the need for
environmental requirements to be integrated· into the planning and
execution of all economic end social policies.
4. But the European Council did more than this. It asked the Council of  
Ministers and the Commission to make every effort to ensure that the  
years to come are marked by significant progress in Community action for  
the protection of the environment in Europe and throughout the world.
5. '  This challenge is a very substantial one. If it is to be met/ strong  
action to secure the protection and improvement of the environment will  
require the active and positive support not only of Governments and  
Parliaments/ but also of every element in our societies - companies/  
trade unions/ educational establishments'/ associations/ societies/  
charities/ interest groups, religious and cultural bodies - and above all  
of the individual citizen.

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6. Most individuals and grouping's are aware that the environment is  
important. But few are aware just how much it is threatened in many parts  
of the Community; or how much a healthy and attractive environment could  
contribute to health and wellbeing and to an improved quality of life,  
jstill fewer yet share the European Council's perception that strong  
ienvironmental policies can contribute positively to economic growth and
7job creation.
7 . The central task of the European Year of the Environment is to bring  
about a widespread diffusion of awareness of these facts. It is a task of  
information and sensitisation. The aim must be to change attitudes - to  
convince every element in our societies - every man, woman and child in  
the Community - that the protection of the environment must become a  
fundamental element in their lives and in all human activities.
8. It is only when such a fundamental shift of attitude has come about  
that the cause of the environment will become an automatic part of all  
action, individual or collective. Only then will the needs of  
environmental protection no longer need to plead for a hearing. And only  
then wilt the Commuait y find it easy to make the significant progress  
that the European Council demanded.
9. The Commission is determined to respond to the challenge presented by  
the decision of the European Council and to organise and stimulate a  
programme of events and activities throughout the European Year of the  
Environment on a scale commensurate with the challenge.
10. The remainder of this document gives a brief summary of the  
background to community environment policy and a preliminary indication  
of the Commission's ideas on the organisation and nature of the  
activities that wilt take place during the European Year of the  
Environment, 1987.

3
BACKGROUND
11. For over 12 years now the Community has been engaged in numerous  
initiatives concerned with protecting the environment.
12. It is as well to recall that this involvement was initiated and  
stimulated throughout the execution of 3 action programmes (proposed by  
the Commission and adopted by the Council of Ministers, in 1973, 1977 and  
1983), by the European Parliament and especially by the European Council  
which had, as early as 1972, given the impetus to the start of a coherent  
Commission policy.
13. Since then more than 100 Community legislative measures have been  
adopted. Together with other actions in the field, these have contributed  
to specific progress in all areas', protection of water,' action against  
noise and air pollution, waste management, nature protection, research  
ini'c- environmental problems, and education of the population. Indeed it 
i? no exaggeration tp' say that the rapid development of Community 
e · *  ’ -onmental policy is one of the Community8s success stories®
14. The growing popular support for Community involvement in  
environmental protection has contributed to and re-inforced these  
actions. The protection of the environment has thus become an important  
element in a People's Europe.
* ·
15. During this period environmental policy has evolved considerably. In  
the Resolution of the Council of Ministers which approved the general  
approach of the Community's Third Environmental Action Programme  
particular emphasis is placed on the need to strengthen the preventive  
side of environmental policy and to integrate the environmental dimension  
into other policies.
^16. Progress is being made in these directions; but it is clear that much  
imore still needs to be done in order to respond adequately to the call of  
the European Council for significant progress in the years to come. The

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Community is still far from having solved all existing environmental  
problems - let alone newly emerging problems. And it is still far from  
realising all the positive contributions that environmental protection  
pnd improvement can make.
i
f17. In part the reason for this is that actions for environmental  
protection and the improvement of the quality of life for the population  
bring with them political and technical appreciations which differ from  
one Member State to another and call into question the economic and  
social interests of various groups of the population.
18. Equally, while in all Member States the protection of the environment ,  
is seen as a necessity, the speed of its deterioration and, as a  
consequence, the general awareness of the situation are often dissimilar.
Thus it is that while in the main the political and social forces  
contribute to and stimulate the Community action they too, because of the
actual situations or because of the interpretation '  of - sometimes'  *contradictory - interests can slow down and delay these actions.
19. Given the difficult compromise of interests - with differing *  t  
circumstances and awareness - and with difficult problems of Community  
inter-relationships to resolve, it is apparent that a substantial effort
to explain the Community's endeavours and essentially positive actions is  
necessary.
20. In planning this action it is of great importance to keep in mind  
that the European Council has underlined the fact that environment policy  
is an essential part of economic, industrial, agricultural and social  
policies and can contribute to improved economic growth and job creation.
The Council equally emphasized the need for coherent Community action  
especially for the protection of the air, the sea and soil.
THE OBJECTIVES AND ORGANISATION OF THE EUROPEAN YEAR OF THE ENVIRONMENT
21. The overall objective of the European Year of the Environment must  
then, be to increase the awareness of the practical application of* the  
basic principles of Community environmental policy - the préventive

approach and the integration of environmental requirements into the  
planning and execution of policies and actions in all economic and social  
fields - whilst at the same time placing emphasis on the newer  
perceptions underlined by the European Council i.e. the contribution that  
environmental policy can make to economic growth and job-creation.
22. In order to achieve this objective the Commission intends to organise  
the planning of and preparation for the European Year of the Environment  
through committees at three .,levels comprising highly qualified  
individuals :
(1) a "Committee of Honour";
(2) a Steering Committee chaired by the responsible Commissioner Mr.  
Stanley Clinton Davis;
(3) a series of national committees in each Member State, whose chairmen  
would also be members of the Steering Committee.
23. As regards the "Committee of Honour", the intention·is to invite well  
known personalities from every Member State,’  outstanding for their  
commitment to the question» of environmental protection and willing to  
make every effort to, use their prestige to promote the European Year of 
the Environment and Community actions.
24. From an operational point of view, the Commission would hop’ s to give, 
through the Steering Committee, stimulus, support and aid from  
personalities of renown at national and where possible, international  
level, well versed in environmental policy and improvement of the quality  
of life. It would also seek to increase awareness and promote policies  
in the respective countries. The intention is that all the chairmen of  
national committees would also serve on the Steering Committee.
« ·
25. The national committees would, in turn, take more local initiatives  
highlighting and expanding actions which form the community plan. It wilt  
also be their function to encourage and stimulate activities which could
f  *··be undertaken during the European Year of the Environment by every  
element in society - companies, trade unions, schools and universities,  
churches and charities; associations and groups of all kinds.

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ACTIONS PROPOSED FOR THE EUROPEAN YEAR OF THE ENVIRONMENT
26. The first step which the Commission has taken is to develop an  
initial outline of proposals for a series of actions to be undertaken and  
financed by the Commission (with 'the advice and support of the Steering  
Committee) which will provide the essential central stimulus for the  
launching, preparation and celebration of the European Year of the  
Environment.
27. However it is clear that if adequate preparations for the European  
Year of the Environment are to be made in time, actions cannot wait until  
the 1986 Budget is approved. For this reason the Commission has already  
taken steps for funds to be made available for
the 1985 Budget to finance preparatory actions during the remaining*  imonths of 1985. These will relate, in particular, to the preparation of  
overall strategies for action at both Community and national levels and  
to preparatory work fqr certain specific actions such as competitions.
28. The Commission wishes to emphasize that it believes that there will
be strong support for the European Year of the Environment> and a
readiness by many elements in society to contribute financially to its  
success. It believes also that profitable commercial opportunities exist .  i  
and could be used. National Committees will seek funding from private  
sources to support many of their activities during the Year.
29. It is clearly not appropriate for the Commission to go into further  
details at this stage as to the specific actions to be undertaken during  
the European Year of the Environment since these will depend very much on  
the decisions to be taken and advice given by the Steering Committee and  
the national committees. However some general indications can be given.
30. To achieve the objectives of the European Year of the Environment it
will be necessary to involve all branches of the media, radio,
television, films and the press. To stimulate,media interest, awards
i

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could be given for the best environmental coverage. Additionally, other  
groups/ such as the national administrations, industrialists, the world  
of science and education, could be encouraged, for example, through  
offering prizes for the best performance in environmental protection in  
the different areas. Major conferences would also be sponsored throughout  
the Community, to exchange information and pool ideas in the environment  
field.
31. A particular importance would be attached to competitions and prizes  
for major projects for environmental improvement carried out under the  
aegis of the Commission and under the responsibility of the appropriate  
national authorities. These projects would demonstrate the advantages of  
active environmental policy and would be a durable achievement of the  
European Year of the Environment.
32. It is the Commission's view that the programme of the European Year  
of the Environment should reflect Community policy on the environment and  
the general lines laid down by the European '  Coun'cil.  It should  
particularly stress the need for a preventive approach and also the need  
to integrate environmental considerations into all social and economic  
actions. In addition there are the Community's priority actions against  
atmospheric pollution, water protection with special emphasis on the  
North Sea and the Mediterranean, and the protection of soil - which is, 
more and more, being recognised as a priority area. But above all the  
Commission intends to seek to demonstrate, through the actions undertaken  
during the European Year of the Environment, the truth of the, newer  
perceptions underlined by the European Council i.e. that environmental  
protection policy can contribute to improved economic growth and job  
creation.
f
33. Finally the Commission wishes to stress and underline the central aim  
of all the actions to be undertaken during the European Year of the  
Environment i.e. to bring about a shift in attitude in society so that,  
i j n  future, the fundamental importance of the protection of thei
^nvironment and of the improvement of the quality of life will not only  
be accepted, but will be built in to and clearly manifested by all  
actions taken and policies pursued - whether in relation to environmental

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protection as such or in the economic and social field - by individuals,  
Parliaments, Governments and all other participants - at whatever level -  
in the life of the Community.
\34. Given the breadth and fundamental nature of these objectives the  
Commission is under no illusions that they can be achieved by a limited  
range of actions (important though these will undoubtedly be), generated  
ty the. Commission alone,, with the advice of the Steering Committee; or  
generated by the national committees. What is needed above all is to  
stimu'ate widespread interest in, commitment and enthusiastic support for  
the oS‘■  actives of EYE. This will be one of the key tasks of the Steering  
Committee and the national committees. They must act as the catalysts  
which will release the inventiveness and goodwill of all the manyf t
elements in our societies who can contribute to making EYE the success  
that it needs to be if the ambitious objectives of the European Council  
are to be achieved.
y ‘
t |
35. In this perspective the Commission will, in "all its preparatory work  
for the European Year of the Environment, attach great importance to:-
i. actions which can enable individual citizens to generate ideas for  
and to participate in the celebration of European Year of the  
Environment.\.li.  the active support and participation of the European Parliament;j
1  of the Economic and Social Committee; and of national Parliaments
and regional, provincial and local Government bodies;
iii. encouraging other bodies or groups within the Community, who will  
be organising events of whatever character during the European
.  Year of the Environment (whether special event or e.g. annual  
meetings) to plan them in such a way that they can be ta"ken under  
the patronage of the European Year of the Environment; but  
included in its programmes; and .  contribute towards the  
achievements of its objectives;
iv. a close collaboration with international institutions along lines  
yet to be decided, so that while they follow their own actions  
they might also contribute to the objectives of the European Year

—  Ç —
of the Environment; to this end the Commission intends to discuss  
its plans for EYE with such bodies as the Council of Europe, EFTA,  
VICED1 and UNEP2.
• l
World Commission of Environment and Development  
United Nations Environment Programme

ANNEX II
COUNCIL RESOLUTION OF
adopting a programme for the European Year of the Environment (EYE)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,  
Having regard to the oLfrom  the Commission,
Whereas the Community's environment policy can contribute towards economic  
growth and help create jobs;
Whereas this policy should become an essential aspect of the economic,  
Industrial, agricultural and social policies implemented by the Community  
and the Member States;
Whereas the European Council has asked the Council and the Commission to  
spare no effort to ensure that the Community makes significant progress  
in the matter of protecting the Community and world environment in the  
next few years;
Whereas such progress requires active support not only from governments  
and parliaments but from all sectors of our societies and thus requires  
an active campaign for public awareness;
Whereas the European Council has decided that 1987 shall be designated  
"European Year of the Environment";
Whereas it is appropriate to organize and promote a programme of events  
and activities to take place throughout the European Year of the  
Environment and whereas these events and activities should be aimed at  
raising public consciousness and changing behaviour patterns towards the 
envi ronment,
HAS ADOPTED THIS RESOLUTION:
Article 1
The objectives and the main lines of an action programme for the  
European Year of the Environment, as described in the annex, are  
approved for a period of three years from January 1st 1986.

Article 2
The actions will be financed from credits under article 666  
of the annual budget of the European Communities.
Article 3
The Commission will be responsible for the implementation  
of the programmme as outlined in the annex. It will  
submit an annual report on the implementation of the  
programme to the Council and the Parliament.
For the Council  
The President

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ANNEX
1. Aims
The general aim of the European Year of the Environment (EYE) is to convince  
all sectors of society, and in particular the man in the street, that  
environmental protection ic· an essential aspect of all human activity  
and that ecological requirements should be given full consideration  
in the planning and implementation of policies and action in all areas  
of economic and social activity.
The emphasis will be on the need for preventive action to protect the  
environment and on how such action can help further economic growth and  
job creation.
2. Organization
The European Year of the Environment will be organized with the help of  
the following Committees:
2.1 Committee of Patrons
This Committee will consist of public figures known in the Member States  
for their commitment to environmental protection and willing to lend their  
name to furthering the objectives of the EYE.
2.2 Advisory Steering Committee
This Committee will be chaired by the Commission and will comprise the  
Chairmen of the National Committees and representative public figures  
and will be responsible for the general coordination of all action during  
the EYE.
2.3 National Committees
These Committees will be composed of members representing the circles  
concerned and will support and promote the national activities and propose  
suitable projects for Community support.
3. Activities to be promoted
Four types of activity will be promoted, namely:
3.1 Activities that are models of environmental protection and the  
efficient management of resources
With the approval of the National Committees, the Community will provide  
financial support for specific projects to improve the environment and  
ensure the efficient management of resources.

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The following are examples of such projects:
Waste water treatment plant in certain less favoured regions;,  
port disposal facilities (e.g. for spent oil and waste water);  
establishing areas within which groundwater is protected; introducing  
new technologies into certain industrial sectors and small and medium­
sized undertakings; creating an inter-connected network of works for  
the processing and elimination of toxic waste, multinational countryside  
parks; model farms which use acceptable ecological techniques; reclamation  
of abandoned industrial sites; preservation of historical monuments;  
urban renewal.
3.2 Model surveillance activities
The implementation of environmental law and policies leaves much to be  
desired throughout the Community.
With the approval of the National Committees, the Community will support  
surveillance activities which set an example in the main areas of  
environmental policy. It will support numerous small and medium-scale  
activities which contribute towards the effective implementation of  
environmental laws or demonstrate the importance of environmental  
policies.
In particular, these projects will concern the equipment of air and  
water pollution measuring stations (in cross-border areas), the training  
of inspectorate staff (toxicologists, waste water treatment specialists),  
aid for creating jobs such as country park warden, etc., training  
courses on model farms for young farmers, and aid for the recovery and  
recycling of waste.
3.3 Sensitization
This will involve promoting certain types of activity which will make  
the media (radio, TV, films and press) more aware of the problems.
To encourage the media, prizes could be awarded for the best piece of  
reporting or the best film. Other circles, such as government, industry  
and the world of science and education could also be encouraged by  
prizes for the best performance in the field of environmental protection.
Dossiers could be produced on Community and national environment policies.  
A bulletin could be issued for disseminating information on environmental  
protection and resources management.
3.4 Coordination and management of the activities
Simple, temporary machinery will be put in place to coordinate the  
activities decided by the National Committees and private initiatives  
to make sure that they fit in with the aims of the EYE and contribute  
towards its objectives.

4. Financing
The activities Listed in 3.1 to 3.3 will be financed by appropriations  
entered in the Commission's annual budget under Item 6661 "European  
Year of the Environment - medium-term actions". The coordination and  
management mentioned in 3.4 will be financed by appropriations  
entered under Item 6660 "European Year of the Environment".