COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 07.07.1995 
COM(95) 325 final 
95/0184 (CNS) 
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION 
TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 
Review of the development and implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 
1210/90 on the establishment of the European Environment Agency and the 
European Environment Information and Observation Network 
Draft 
COUNCIL RESOLUTION 
on the development and implementation of the European Environment Agency 
(presented by the Commission) 

Introduction 
1. The Council Regulation (EEC) 1210/90' which formally established the European 
Environment Agency (subsequently referred to as the EEA or Agency) made provision 
in its Article 20 for a decision by Council on the possibility of further tasks for the 
Agency. This Decision would be made in consultation with Parliament and on the 
basis of proposals in a report from the Commission. The Regulation stipulates that 
the Council make a decision no later than two years after the entry into force of the 
EEA Regulation. The Regulation came into force on the 30th October 1993 following 
the decision on 29th October 1993 to locate the EEA in Copenhagen, so the decision 
should be taken by 30th October 1995. 
2. This Communication deals with three inter-related issues: 
• the requirement of Article 20 of the EEA Regulation to undertake a review of 
whether to propose further tasks for the Agency; 
the need to establish, develop and improve the underlying infrastructure of the 
European Environmental Information and Observation Network (EIONET); 
• the need to establish the nature of participation of third countries in the 
Agency. 
Review of further tasks of the Agency 
3. While the Regulation came into force in October 1993, in practice, the Agency only 
started operations in mid-1994. This was principally due to the time required to recruit 
an Executive Director, to put a minimal operative staff into place and for equipping 
premises.The Agency expects to be fully equipped and operational by the end of 1995. 
4. In its short life,as described in the 1994 Annual General Report (see Annex 2), the 
Agency has successfully begun to implement the objectives described in the Council 
Regulation. In particular, the following activities have been undertaken: 
• production and agreement on a multi-annual Work Programme (1994 - 1999) 
and an annual Work Programme for 1994 / 1995 which, currently, is being 
carried out; 
beginning of the establishment of the EEA's network, known as EIONET, 
selection and appointment of five European Topic Centres and close co­
operation with National Focal Points; 
• the production of the pan-European "Europe's Environment. The Dobris 
assessment" report on the state of the environment.; 
This initial work bodes well for the success of the Agency in meeting its two principal 
objectives as a collator and provider of data and of technical and scientific support to 
the Union and to Member States. 
5. However, the Agency, its Management Board and the Commission all recognise that 
before the Agency can be said to be fully established, the EIONET network for the 
gathering of data needs to be in place and operating. At present, EIONET is still in 
its early stages and requires improvements, particularly at the infrastructure level in 
1 Council Regulation (EEC) 1210/90 of 7th May 1990 on the establishment of the European 
Environment Agency and the European environment information and observation network. 
Page 2, 
several Member States. 
6. The Regulation contained a number of provisions aimed at assessing the progress and 
scope of the EEA's work. This includes an assessment of whether further tasks should 
be undertaken by the Agency. At this early stage in the Agency's life it would be 
premature to add to the workload the Agency already has to deal with. It is essential 
that, before any extension of work is agreed upon, the Agency be given sufficient time 
to complete its basic tasks of collection of basic infonnation and the establishment of 
EIONET as well as the remaining tasks in its annual Work Programme. 
7. The Commission believes that two full years of operations, with a full staff in post, 
are required by the Agency to fulfil its initial obligations and lay the basis for a 
successful undertaking of further work. The Commission therefore proposes to Council 
and Parliament that an extension of two years from October 30th 1995 be given before 
the decision required by Article 20 of the Regulation 1210/90 needs to be taken. This 
would allow the Agency to concentrate on and complete its initial tasks in the two 
year time period originally foreseen. It will further permit the Commission's Report 
to reflect on the experience of the Agency in practice and to be able to propose, if 
required, appropriate further tasks for the Agency. In the meantime, the Agency will 
continue to produce Annual General Reports on its activities which shall be forwarded 
to the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission and Member States. 
Improving the EIONET Infrastructure 
8. Article 2 of the Regulation requires the Agency to establish, in co-operation with 
Member States, and co-ordinate a network of organisations to collaborate in the 
provision of the information at European level which will enable the Community and 
the Member States to take the requisite measures to protect the environment. The 
network is defined in Article 4 and consists of: 
the main component elements of the national information networks (to be 
identified by Member States) 
the national focal points (designated by Member States) 
the topic centres (chosen by decision of the EEA Management Board) 
9. A number of these network components have been identified and have begun to 
operate. However, in many cases the infrastructure and means to fully contribute to 
the gathering and exchange of information are not yet sufficiently developed and 
available in all Member States. In particular, the network needs organisations who can 
make an active contribution to the Agency's tasks. 
10. The upgrading of this infrastructure by Member States in 1996 is of fundamental 
importance to the proper functioning of the Agency and the carrying-out of its work 
programme and should be completed before any review of tasks takes place. On the 
basis of the experience gained, financial support is required to ensure that the network 
develops and plays a full role. 
11. For its part, the Commission undertakes to consider all possibilities, including the 
recourse to existing financial instruments, for providing support where it is needed. 
Page 3/ 
Participation of fluid countries in the Agency 
12. Article 19 of the Regulation stipulates that "The Agency is open to countries which 
are not members of the European Communities but which share the concern of the 
Communities and the Member States for the objectives of the Agency under 
agreements concluded between them and the Community following the procedure in 
Article 228 of the Treaty". 
13. At present, besides the fifteen Member States, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein are 
members of the Agency following the agreement on the European Economic Area. 
Interest in participation in the work of the Agency has been expressed by Switzerland 
and Central and Eastern European countries. 
14. The considerable interest generated in third countries reflects the pan-European nature 
of environmental problems. The Commission and the Agency are aware that certain 
aspects of environmental policy, eg river and air pollution, require information from 
areas outside of the European Union. In order to gather this data, the Agency needs 
to build links with appropriate institutions in those countries which can provide the 
information required. These links can be in the form of agreements, legal or 
otherwise, with key organisations identifed by the Agency. In the meantime, third 
countries would have the possibility to apply for membership of the Agency according 
to the procedure of Article 228 of the Treaty. 
Council Resolution 
15. The Council is invited to endorse a Resolution along the following guide-lines: 
the decision of the Council regarding the review of further tasks be delayed for 
two years, ie until 30th October 1997; 
Member States undertake the necessary efforts to bring their national networks 
to an appropriate level in 1996; 
• on the basis of need, the Commission should seek to assist and support 
Member States in overcoming the obstacles they face in the building of 
EIONET; 
bi-lateral arrangements may be pursued with institutions in third countries, 
where necessary for the completion of the EEA's work-programme. 
• participation in the tasks of the Agency is open to countries which are not 
members of the European Community, subject to the procedure of Article 228 
and other requirements of the Treaty. 
Page 4, 
DRAFT 
Council Resolution XXX/95 
95/0184 (CNS) 
of xx/xxx 1995 
on the development and implementation of the European Environment Agency 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION 
Having regard to the Communication from the Commission on the Review of the development 
and implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1210/90 on the establishment of the 
European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Environment Information and 
Observation Network (EIONET), 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Management Board of the EEA, 
Whereas the Council Regulation (EEC) no. 1210/90 of 7th May 19901 makes provision in its 
Article 20 for a decision on further tasks for the Agency, based on a Report from the 
Commission, no later than two years after the entry into force of the Regulation; 
Whereas, in accordance with Article 21 of the Regulation (EEC) 1210/90, the Regulation 
came into force on the 30 October 1993, the day following the decision of the competent 
authorities to locate the seat of the Agency in Copenhagen; 
Whereas the Agency started to operate only in mid-1994 with its full staff not in post until 
the end of 1995 and whereas it would be desirable to allow at least two full years of 
operations by the Agency before a decision is made on the assignment of further tasks to it; 
Whereas Articles 2 and 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) 1210/90 provide for the building of 
a network of organisations in its member countries which can contribute to the completion 
of the tasks of the Agency; 
Whereas Article 19 of Regulation 1210/90 opens the Agency to countries who are not 
members of the European Communities who conclude an agreement with the Community 
following the procedure in Article 228 of the Treaty; 
1. WELCOMES AND SUPPORTS the communication from the Commission. 
2. CONSIDERS that since beginning operations in practice, the European Environment 
Agency has made progress in the achievement of the tasks assigned to it through: 
1 OJ No L 120/5, 11 May 1990, pi, 
Page 5, 
the recruitment of an executive Director and its operative staff; 
the adoption and carrying-out of an annual and multi-annual work programme; 
the establishment of topic centres, national focal points and basic elements of its 
Network. 
3. RECOGNISES that the setting-up of the Agency and its network (EIONET) is a complex 
operation due to the high number of institutions involved. 
4. NOTES that the tasks assigned to the Agency require the full operational capacity of the 
Agency and EIONET. 
5. CONSIDERS that any decision on further tasks would be premature before the Agency has 
been fully operational for two years and before the complete establishment of its network and 
thus CONFIRMS that the decision foreseen in Article 20 of Regulation 1210/90 should be 
delayed for two years, until 30th October 1997. 
6. UNDERLINES the need for national networks to be upgraded to an appropriate level in 
1996 and therefore URGES Member States to make the necessary effort to ensure that the 
necessary infrastructure is operational. REQUESTS the Commission to assist and give support 
to Member States, within the framework of existing Community instruments, where required 
to overcome the obstacles faced at national level. 
7. RECALLS that the Regulation 1210/90 has foreseen the possibility for third countries to 
become members of the Agency through following the procedures of Article 228 of the 
Treaty. 
8. CONSIDERS useful that the Agency enters into agreements with institutions in third 
countries who can provide data necessary for the successful completion of the Agency's work. 
9. INVITES the Commission to take the necessary measures to ensure that the Report 
foreseen by Article 20 of the Regulation 1210/90 is furnished to the Council in time for a 
decision on further tasks which should be taken before 30th October 1997. 
Page 6, 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(95) 325 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 14 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-95-354-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-91290-1 
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