Decision No 2179/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 1998 on the review of the European Community programme of policy and action in relation to the environment and sustainable development 'Towards sustainability"
Date: 1998-09-24
Institutions: Council of the European Union, European Parliament
Subjects: EU programme, action programme, environmental policy, sustainable development

10. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 275/1

I

(Acts whose publication is obligatory)

DECISION No 2179/98/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF
THE COUNCIL

of 24 September 1998

on the review of the European Community programme of policy and action in
relation to the environment and sustainable development ‘Towards sustainability'

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL
OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

February 1993 (6), approved the general approach
and strategy of the Programme;

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community, and in particular the first subparagraph of
Article 130s(3) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social
Committee (2),

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the
Regions (3),

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in
Article 189b of the Treaty (4), in the light of the joint text
approved by the Conciliation Committee on 29 June
1998,

(1) Whereas on 18 March 1992 the Commission
adopted the European Community programme of
policy and action in relation to the environment
and sustainable development
sustain-
ability' (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Programme');

‘Towards

(5) Whereas, while many of the measures and actions
in the Programme are set within a time-frame
which extends to the year 2000, the Programme
provides for a review to be undertaken before the
end of 1995;

(6) Whereas a number of developments with a bearing
on sustainable development have occurred since
the adoption of the Programme, in particular the
adoption of Agenda 21 on the outcome of the
United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development, and the adoption by the Commis-
sion of a White Paper on growth, competitiveness
and employment;

(7) Whereas the review should also reflect the commit-
ments entered into and the conclusions adopted as
part of various international processes;

(2) Whereas the European Parliament, in its resolution
of 17 November 1992 (5), welcomed the guidelines
set out in the Programme;

(8) Whereas one of

the objectives of Community
policy on the environment, under Article 130r of
the Treaty, is the protection of human health;

(3) Whereas the Economic and Social Committee, in
its opinion of 1 July 1992, approved the concepts
and the thrust of the Programme;

(4) Whereas the Council and the representatives of the
the Member States, meeting
resolution of 1

Governments of
within the Council,

in their

(1) OJ C 140, 11. 5. 1996, p. 5, and OJ C 28, 29. 1. 1997, p. 18.
(2) OJ C 212, 22. 7. 1996, p. 1.
(3) OJ C 34, 3. 2. 1997, p. 12.
(4) Opinion of the European Parliament of 13 November 1996
(OJ C 362, 2. 12. 1996, p. 112), Council common position of
17 April 1997 (OJ C 157, 24. 5. 1997, p. 12) and Decision of
the European Parliament of 17 July 1997 (OJ C 286, 22. 9.
1997, p. 208). Decision of the European Parliament of 15 July
1998 (OJ C 292, 21. 9. 1998) and Decision of the Council of
20 July 1998.

(5) OJ C 337, 21. 12. 1992, p. 34.

(9) Whereas the enlargement of the European Union
to include the three new Member States, Austria,
Finland and Sweden, poses new environmental
challenges to the Union; whereas the Community
has committed itself to reviewing certain provisions
of its legislation in the environmental field by the
end of the transitional period in accordance with
the Act concerning the conditions of accession of
Austria, Finland and Sweden, in the light of the
stricter standards that can be maintained in the
new Member States in accordance with the Treaty,
and
of
promoting a high level of health, safety and envir-
onmental protection as part of Community action;

emphasising

importance

great

the

(6) OJ C 138, 17. 5. 1993, p. 1.

L 275/2

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

10. 10. 98

(10) Whereas extensive consultation has taken place in
the review process carried out by the Commission
to compile information on progress to date and
obstacles to the implementation of the Programme;

(11) Whereas on 10 November 1995 the European
Environment Agency presented an updated state of
the environment report as a contribution to the
review process which made it clear that, without
additional measures, the 1992 aims for the year
2000 will not be attained in certain sectors;

(12) Whereas

in January

the Commission
presented a progress report on the implementation
of the Programme;

1996

(13) Whereas the overall strategy, objectives and indic-
ative actions of the original Programme remain
valid and the Programme constitutes an appro-
priate point of departure for the implementation of
Agenda 21 by the Community and the Member
States;

(14) Whereas the basic strategy of the Programme is to
achieve full integration of environmental and other
relevant policies through the active participation of
the main actors in society in a broadening and
deepening of the range of instruments to achieve
behavioural change;

(15) Whereas the conclusions of

the progress report
show that progress has been made on a number of
issues, but that a great deal remains to be done to
move towards sustainability;

(16) Whereas the progress report identifies key priorit-
ies needed to ensure that the process of sustainable
development is given greater impetus; whereas the
Community should step up its efforts on five key
priorities and five other
the
implementation of the Programme;

issues to support

(17) Whereas the objectives, targets, actions and time-
frames indicated in the Programme constitute a
useful start in moving towards sustainable develop-
ment; whereas action needs to be stepped up to
ensure that the priorities set out in the programme
are put
into practice in a more effective way;
whereas sustainability of activity and development
will not be attained during the life-span of this
programme and, consequently,
further and still
more progressive priority objectives and measures
will be necessary beyond the year 2000 to maintain
the momentum of Community action;

(18) Whereas,

in implementing its general

action
programme, the Community will act within the
limits of its powers; whereas, in their resolution
dated 1 February 1993, the Council and the repres-
entatives of the Governments of the Member States
invited the Commission to come forward with
to the
appropriate proposals

to give

effect

programme in so far as it pertains to action at
Community level;

for

basis

(19) Whereas this Decision is without prejudice to the
the measures which, while
legal
complying with the objectives of
the actions
provided for in this Decision, are adopted in the
framework of environmental policy and of other
Community policies;

in the process of

(20) Whereas the further integration of environmental
protection requirements into other policy areas is
regarded as a key means of achieving sustainable
imple-
development; whereas,
menting the approach set out in the Programme,
the need to integrate environmental considerations
into Community policy and action should be trans-
lated into more operational terms; whereas, to this
end, in relation to the target sectors of agriculture,
transport, energy, industry and tourism a number of
priorities have been identified in connection with
which action can be carried out most effectively at
Community level;

(21) Whereas broadening the range of instruments has
proved more difficult than envisaged; whereas the
development and implementation of other instru-
ments to complement legislation is necessary to
bring about substantial changes towards sustainable
development in current trends and practices, taking
account of the subsidiarity principle; whereas this
requires the further development at an appropriate
level of effective market-based and other economic
instruments and of horizontal instruments, and the
improved use of the Community’s own financial
support mechanisms as a means of promoting
sustainable development; whereas the Commission
the
has put
common agricultural policy which envisage,
in
particular, increased financial incentives for agri-
environmental measures and the possibility for
Member States to take appropriate steps to ensure
compliance with the environmental provisions of
the common market organisations;

forward proposals

reform of

for

(22) Whereas it is necessary to ensure better imple-
mentation and enforcement of
environmental
measures, which requires action at all levels of the
regulatory chain;

(23) Whereas communication,

information, education
and training are crucial as a means of stimulating
environmental awareness and promoting beha-
vioural changes in all sections of society;

(24) Whereas the Community has an important role to
play in international action on the environment
and sustainable development; whereas there is a
in
need to respond to international challenges,
particular the potential accession of the associated
countries of central and eastern Europe and of
Cyprus, the need to increase cooperation with the

10. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 275/3

Mediterranean countries and the countries of the
Baltic Sea region, the need to carry on the process
initiated by the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development and discussions on
trade and the environment;

(25) Whereas further efforts are necessary to improve
the basis for environmental policy in the form of
reliable and comparable data, statistics and indic-
ators and methods of assessing the costs and bene-
fits of action or lack of action;

(26) Whereas

it

further

is necessary

to develop
approaches
to promote sustainable patterns of
production and consumption; whereas it is neces-
sary to promote the best use of new techniques and
technologies;

(27) Whereas it

is necessary further to develop the
concept of shared responsibility, in particular by
strengthening dialogue with the actors concerned
and their
in the preparation of
Community policies and actions;

involvement

(28) Whereas there is potential for Community support
to provide more
coordinated
coherent
approaches in relation to activities at local and
regional
to the
achievement of sustainable development and to
stimulate exchanges of information and experience;

levels on issues

fundamental

and

(29) Whereas the Community will further develop its
policies in relation to the environmental themes
covered by the Programme on the basis of high
standards of environmental protection; whereas
specific attention will be given to those actions
which can be carried out most effectively at
Community level,

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Community confirms its commitment to the general
approach and strategy of the Programme ‘Towards Sus-
tainability' adopted by the Commission on 18 March
1992, welcomed in the resolution of the European Parlia-
ment of 17 November 1992 and approved by the resolu-
tion of the Council and the representatives of the Govern-
ments of the Member States, meeting within the Council,
of 1 February 1993. Community institutions, Member
States, enterprises and citizens are encouraged to accept
their respective responsibilities to play their full part in
the continuing implementation of the Programme and to
seek to speed up the process.

In order to speed up the achievement of the Programme’s
objectives and to ensure the more efficient implementa-
tion of its approach, taking into account the Commis-
sion’s progress report on the implementation of
the
Programme as well as the updated state of the environ-
ment report presented by the European Environment

Agency, the Community will, while aiming at a high level
of protection and taking into account the diversity of
situations in the various regions of the Community, step
up its efforts on five key priorities and five other issues as
being those which will give an additional impetus to the
implementation of the Programme.

Notwithstanding these specific priorities, the Community
will actively pursue all other action initiated under the
Programme.

In implementing the Programme, the Community will
act within the limits of its powers. This Decision shall be
without prejudice to the legal basis for the measures
which, while complying with the objectives of the actions
provided for by this Decision, are adopted in the frame-
work of environmental policy and of other Community
policies.

of

assessment

the end of

the Programme,

At
the Commission will
submit to the European Parliament and the Council a
global
the
the
Programme, giving special attention to any revision and
updating of objectives and priorities which may be
required,
appropriate, by
proposals for the priority objectives and measures that will
be necessary beyond the year 2000.

and accompanied, where

implementation of

SECTION 1

KEY PRIORITIES

Article 2

Integration of environmental requirements into
other policies

The Community will develop improved and more consis-
tent approaches
to the integration of environmental
protection requirements into other policy areas, with a
view to facilitating the process of moving towards sustain-
able development.

To this end, in relation to the sectors targeted under the
Programme the Community will focus on the following
priorities in connection with which action can be carried
out most effectively at Community level.

1. In relation to agriculture, the priority objectives of the

Community shall be:

(a) better to integrate market, rural development and
environmental policies with a view to securing
sustainable agriculture, notably in the framework of
the reform process launched by the Commission’s
Agenda 2000 proposals, by:

— integrating environmental considerations into
agricultural policy-making and taking appro-
priate steps to ensure that specific environ-
mental objectives are achieved pursuant to the
process of the reform of the common agricul-
tural policy,

L 275/4

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

10. 10. 98

— considering the scope for the incorporation of
additional environmental considerations into
agricultural policies.

appropriate
All measures
monitoring, reporting and evaluation obligations;

include

should

(b) to provide for regular reporting and the generation
of comparable data on the pressures and effects on
the environment, including biodiversity, of agricul-
tural practices, such as fertiliser and pesticide use,
and data on water quality and use and land use;

(c) to promote sustainable farming, including integ-
rated farm technologies, organic agriculture and,
where appropriate, extensive production methods
(which, for example, respect biodiversity) in close
cooperation with the
concerned. The
Community will continue to encourage the devel-
initiatives and disseminate in-
opment of
formation on them;

actors

local

(d) further to develop an integrated strategy to reduce
the risks to health and the environment from the
use of plant protection products and pesticides,
including more detailed provisions on the distribu-
tion and sales of these substances and restrictions
on use and, where appropriate, substitution of the
most dangerous plant protection products and
pesticides;

(e) further to develop comprehensive approaches to
rural development,
taking account of environ-
mental considerations, including the conservation
of biological diversity, for example by monitoring
and coordinating the various policy instruments
concerned;

(f)

to consider measures for
internalising environ-
mental costs in the cost of agricultural products
and production processes.

The Community will promote better coordination and
coherence of actions and policies affecting forests, with
(including
a view to facilitating their management
afforestation and protection from forest fires), conserva-
tion and sustainable development and responding to
international developments concerning forests.

(a)

further to tighten provisions on emissions and
noise from road and off-road vehicles and, taking
due account of developments in the relevant inter-
national forums, from aircraft, as well as on fuel
quality, to develop action to reduce CO2 emissions
from road vehicles, notably by promoting the use
of fuel-efficient vehicles and low-emission techno-
logies, and to strengthen Community provisions on
vehicle inspection and maintenance;

(b) to give greater attention to the factors determining
transport demand, while taking account of
the
diversity of situations in the various regions of the
Community, by:

— developing and promoting measures to achieve
better internalisation of external costs in trans-
port prices, in particular for less environment-
ally-friendly modes of transport, as a prerequis-
ite for influencing user choices in order to
arrive at a more sustainable level of transport
demand,

— promoting a more integrated transport policy,
including improvements in the economic effi-
ciency of
the transport sector and improve-
ments in environmental, safety and accessibility
aspects, inter alia by promoting better integra-
tion of land-use and transport planning and
demand-management measures,
promoting
such as the use of telematics;

(c) to pursue its aims of reducing the imbalances
between the different transport modes and encour-
aging the more environmentally friendly modes of
transport, in particular by:

— developing potential methods of analysis with a
view to strategic evaluation of
the environ-
mental impact of the trans-European transport
as potential methods of
network as well
corridor analysis covering all relevant transport
modes, taking account of the need to link all
Member States and regions to the trans-Euro-
pean transport network and, in particular, the
need to link island, landlocked and peripheral
regions with the
the
Community,

regions of

central

— investigating possibilities

of
Community funding to promote
a better
balance between transport modes by facilitating
transport intermodality and appropriate modal
shifts,

the use

for

2. In relation to transport, the priority objectives of the

Community shall be:

— developing a framework for solving the envir-
onmental problems caused by heavy goods
vehicle traffic,

10. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 275/5

— promoting the use of more environmentally
friendly modes of transport, for example by
encouraging public and/or collective transport
and low-emission vehicles.

3. In relation to energy, the priority objectives of the

Community shall be:

(a)

to promote energy efficiency and the rational use
of energy and to support the development and
application of energy-saving technologies and prac-
tices,
including renewable energy sources and
combined heat and power, by means of appropriate
programmes and measures, awareness-raising and
information measures, and to develop criteria for
the screening of subsidy schemes in order to offset
the adverse impact of certain incentives;

(b) to encourage

the

implementation of

energy
demand side management measures,
including
energy conservation measures, the internalisation
of external costs and benefits through economic
instruments and other means, and the improved
coordination of consumer awareness initiatives in
Community energy-saving programmes;

(c) to strengthen energy efficiency standards for appli-
ances and to provide for their energy efficiency
labelling.

4. In relation to industry, the priority objectives of the

Community shall be:

environmental

to promote the ongoing development of eco-
management schemes by the industrial sector and
to develop programmes for the further promotion
awareness on the part of
of
industry,
and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as for
vocational training and technical support; to review
and Audit
the Environmental Management
Scheme;

in particular,

including,

small

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(g)

metals and substances with an irreversible impact
on health;

to improve the legislation and other instruments in
relation to coherent and comprehensive control of
pollution from industrial installations, to develop
options for a framework to complement integrated
pollution control for smaller installations, taking
into account
their particular problems, and to
encourage better integration of external costs;

taking note of the European Parliament resolution
of 14 May 1997 (1) and the Council resolution of 7
October 1997 (2), both concerning the imple-
mentation and enforcement of Community envir-
onmental
law, to take steps to improve imple-
mentation and sanctioning of all regulatory meas-
ures aimed at reducing industrial emissions and
pollution by ensuring improved integration of the
‘polluter pays' principle into Community legisla-
tion; in this connection, the European Parliament
and the Council note that the Commission will
submit a White Paper on environmental liability;

to develop actions in order to enhance the aware-
ness of industry on environmental issues, such as
including
tools for better business information,
information on best available techniques,
inter
alia through the use of EuroBAT documents,
improved dissemination of cleaner technologies
and promotion of best environmental practices;

to clarify the definition of eco-businesses and to
facilitate their development;

to give priority to the problems of SMEs as regards
technical and financial obstacles to the develop-
ment and use of clean technology in relation to the
environment;

(h) to promote effective control and, where viable
environmentally friendly alternatives exist,
the
phasing-out or banning of persistent organic pol-
lutants (POPs), which have a damaging effect on
the environment or health,
taking account of
progress in relevant international negotiations;

(i)

sustainable

form to policies
to develop and give practical
aimed at
industrial development,
involving the formulation of the concept of eco-
efficiency and a focus on partnerships between
industry’s
industry,
governments
capacity for innovation and appropriate incentives
and stimulating conditions, on both the demand
and the supply side.

using

and

to develop a framework for an integrated, life-cycle
orientated product policy, which will address, inter
alia, the further development of life-cycle analysis,
including the reduction of waste generated, and
will take into account implications for the internal
market, in order to promote the development of
cleaner products by incorporating environmental
considerations into their design and minimising
the use of persistent organic substances, heavy

5. In relation to tourism, the priority objectives of the

Community shall be:

(a)

to provide for regular exchanges of information on
the impact on the environment of tourism prac-
tices;

(1) OJ C 167, 2. 6. 1997, p. 92.
(2) OJ C 321, 22. 10. 1997, p. 1.

L 275/6

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

10. 10. 98

(b) to support
promote
resources;

awareness campaigns

in order

environment-friendly use of

to
tourism

(c) to promote the implementation of innovative good
practices in the field of sustainable tourism devel-
opment, including by means of pilot projects in
the framework of existing financial
instruments
and by applying the ‘polluter pays' principle;

(d) to ensure that the Structural Funds contribute to
sustainable forms of tourism in accordance with:

— the requirements of the Structural Fund regula-
tions, including any provisions for the appraisal
of the environmental impact of operations, and

— any other relevant Community legislation, such
as measures concerning Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA);

(e) to promote the incorporation of the issue of ‘envir-
onment and tourism', where appropriate,
into
international agreements.

Article 3

Broadening the range of instruments

The Community will develop,
apply or otherwise
encourage a broader mix of instruments in order to bring
about substantial changes in current trends and practices
in sustainable development, taking account of the sub-
sidiarity principle.

1. In relation to the development, at an appropriate level,
of effective market-based and other economic instru-
implementing policy, special
ments as a means of
attention will be given to:

(a) environmental accounting;

(b) examining constraints on the introduction of
economic instruments and identifying possible
solutions;

(c) the use of environmental charges;

(d) identifying subsidy schemes which adversely affect
sustainable production and consumption practices
with a view to their reform;

(e) encouraging the application of

the concept of

environmental liability at Member State level;

(f) voluntary agreements which pursue environmental
objectives while respecting competition rules;

(g) encouraging the use of

fiscal

instruments
to
achieve environmental objectives,
inter alia by
considering possible legislative initiatives in this
area during the course of
the Programme and
continuing the study of the potential wider benefits
of such instruments, notably in the context of the
general economic objectives of the Community,
such as employment, competitiveness and growth.

2. In relation to horizontal

instruments,
objectives of the Community shall be:

the priority

(a)

to examine, inter alia in the light of the Commis-
sion proposal of 25 March 1997 on the assessment
of the effect of certain plans and programmes on
the environment (1), how the environmental impact
of policies, plans
in the
Community and, where relevant, Commission
proposals for programmes and Community legisla-
tion can be assessed;

and programmes

(b) to develop approaches to environmental

impact
for plans and programmes, and to
assessment
promote
of methodologies,
training and guidance material for assessments of
both projects and plans and programmes;

the development

(c) to consider the extension of the Environmental
Management and Audit Scheme to areas of activity
other than manufacturing industry;

(d) where appropriate, to promote standardisation in
relation to environmental issues and to strengthen
the integration of environmental aspects in the
framing of industrial standards;

(e) to develop criteria to assess the compatibility of
existing Community policies and instruments,
including financing, with the requirements of
sustainable development;

(f)

to review the Community’s public procurement
rules so as better to incorporate environmental
considerations into their application, while safe-
guarding fair competition.

3. Priority will be given to improving the use of the
Community’s own financial support mechanisms as a
means of promoting sustainable development. This
implies better integration of environmental considera-
tions, including the protection of nature, and an evalu-
ation of the impact of these mechanisms on the envir-
onment as a means of improving the quality of support
action from an environmental and economic point of
view.

4. The Community will pursue its current efforts to
ensure the full realisation of the potential that new
techniques and technologies offer in terms of sustain-
ability in sectors such as agriculture, food processing,
chemicals and pharmaceuticals, environmental clean-
up and the development of new materials and energy
sources.

(1) OJ C 129, 25. 4. 1997, p. 14.

10. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 275/7

Article 4

Implementation and enforcement of legislation

The Community will step up efforts at all levels with a
view to ensuring better implementation and enforcement
of environmental legislation.

The priority objectives of the Community shall be:

(a)

to improve the legal framework for environmental
policy by adopting more coherent, comprehensive
and integrated approaches to specific sectors, where
appropriate by simplifying legislative and adminis-
trative procedures and by using framework directives,
and by giving specific attention to the transposability
and enforceability of the measures to be adopted;

(b) to step up efforts to ensure that Member States
comply more effectively with the reporting require-
ments under Community legislation, inter alia by
better
such
rationalisation and standardisation of
requirements, to make greater use of these reports as a
tool in the decision-making process, and to step up
the work done in the management committees on
these issues;

for

and

implementation

(c) to aim to enhance the effectiveness of cooperation
between the authorities in the Member States respons-
ible
of
Community environmental legislation, inter alia via
in this
the network of environmental
context, to seek to achieve greater transparency as
regards supervision and enforcement efforts in the
individual Member States, and to step up joint
cooperation efforts via the same network by means of
pilot projects and exercises on the ground;

enforcement

inspectors;

the Programme and which will assess,

(d) to examine options to enhance the effectiveness of
environment inspection in Europe on the basis of a
report to be presented by the Commission before the
in
end of
particular,
the feasibility of establishing common
inspection criteria on the basis of minimum inspec-
tion standards;
the Commission will publish an
annual report on the environment, detailing inter alia
the Member States in imple-
the performance of
menting and enforcing Community environmental
legislation;

(e) to consider means of

facilitating greater public
involvement in the implementation and enforcement
of environmental policies, and to examine whether
there is a need for improved access to justice, having
regard to the principle of subsidiarity and taking into
account the differing legal systems of the Member
States;

(f)

to encourage, in connection with proposals for the
review of existing legislative acts and in proposals for
legislation, provisions requiring
new environmental
Member States to enforce environmental rules and lay
down the penalties to be imposed if such rules are
breached;

(g) to speed up efforts, at Community and Member State
level, to deal effectively with breaches of Community
environmental
legislation in accordance with the
Treaty, in particular Articles 155 and 171 thereof.

Article 5

Awareness-raising

the

emphasises

importance

The Community
of
communication, information, education and training as a
means of stimulating awareness of sustainable develop-
ment issues and promoting behavioural changes in all
sectors of society. It will
increase its efforts to make
Community citizens more aware of and more informed
about sustainable development issues.

The priority objectives of the Community shall be:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(g)

to make information on the state of the environment
and on the implementation of Community environ-
mental legislation accessible;

to promote the integration of the sustainable develop-
ment
education and
into Community
concept
training programmes;

to encourage environmental education and training at
all relevant levels, inter alia in order to contribute to
changing individual behaviour toward more sustain-
able patterns;

to make optimum use of the system for the evaluation
and appropriate dissemination on a continuous basis
of the results of LIFE projects, both in the area of
nature protection and in other areas of the environ-
ment;

to collect and disseminate widely information and
knowledge concerning the link between the state of
the environment and human health;

to promote green housekeeping for

further
the
Community’s own institutions, and to facilitate the
exchange of best practices and access to and dissem-
ination of
information in this area as widely as
possible;

to promote close cooperation between the Commis-
sion and the Member States in the field of environ-
mental communication and information; to develop a
Community communication strategy in cooperation
with the Member States, inter alia by taking advant-
age of existing cooperation initiatives;

(h) to help consumers take environmental considerations
into account through eco-labelling and the provision
of environmental information on products, including
chemicals;

L 275/8

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

10. 10. 98

(i)

to encourage providers of financial services, such as
banks and insurance companies, to integrate environ-
mental considerations in their operations.

mental practice, including by means of technology
transfer.

2. In relation to the Mediterranean countries and the
the

the priority objectives of

Mediterranean Basin,
Community shall be:

Article 6

International cooperation

(a)

the good prospects

In recognition of the cross-border nature of serious envir-
the
onmental problems and of
Community has of becoming the driving force in the
further development of international environmental rules,
the Community will seek to strengthen its role and take
the lead, in particular as regards the international obliga-
tions which it has entered into under conventions and
protocols.

This implies, in particular, strengthening its approach to
cooperation with the countries of central and eastern
Europe and the Mediterranean and enhancing its role in
relation to environmental issues as identified in Agenda
21 and in relation to bilateral and multilateral cooperation
on sustainable development issues.

to develop, within the framework of the Barcelona
regional
Declaration of November
approach through regular dialogue, inter alia by
means of ministerial conferences, and increased
and improved cooperation, in particular in relation
to financial and technical assistance;

1995,

a

(b) to establish a short and medium-term priority
action programme in relation to the Mediterranean
Basin and to develop a monitoring mechanism for
its implementation.

3. In relation to the Baltic Sea region, the priority object-
ives of the Community shall be to strengthen environ-
mental cooperation in the area within the existing
regional frameworks and to enhance the coordination
of the relevant funds in order to support the Helsinki
Commission (Helcom) activities and, in particular, the
implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Environ-
mental Programme (JCP).

The Community must ensure that it is a driving force in
future work relating to the Biodiversity and Climate
Conventions and that it also takes the lead in inter-
national efforts to establish a global, legally binding regu-
latory system for persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

4. In relation to the Rio process, the priority objectives of
the Community shall be to ensure active Community
participation in the process and in the follow-up to the
1997 Special Session of the UN General Assembly, and
inter alia to contribute to:

1. In relation to central and eastern Europe, the priority

objectives of the Community shall be:

(a)

in the context of

to develop further a comprehensive approach to
environmental matters
the
strategy to prepare the associated countries of
central and eastern Europe for accession;
the
Community undertakes, with the aid of technical
and administrative
cooperation and financial
support, to help the applicant countries achieve the
required level of environmental protection at the
time of their accession; in this connection, higher
priority is to be given to the drawing-up and
implementation of environmental action plans for
each of the countries with a view to their possible
accession;

(b) to

continue

cooperation with and promote
cooperation among the countries of central and
eastern Europe in this area, within the framework
provided by the Europe Agreements. This implies
strengthening cooperation in the field of capacity-
building, continuing to provide financial co-
operation, comprising technical assistance espe-
cially in connection with the approximation of
laws and their implementation and enforcement,
investment support for environmental infrastruc-
ture and cooperation to promote better environ-

(a)

the strengthening of the Framework Convention
on Climate Change in accordance with the Berlin
mandate and subsequent decisions;

(b) the development of the Convention on Biological
including the promotion of national
Diversity,
implementation strategies and the timely develop-
ment of a biosafety protocol;

(c) the strengthening of international cooperation in
the context of the Convention to Combat Desert-
ification.

5. In relation to other international environmental issues,
the priority objectives of the Community shall be:

(a)

implementation of

to carry out a policy review related to the integra-
tion of the sustainable development dimension in
the Fourth ACP-EC
the
Convention; to evaluate Community development
assistance overall
to ensure that environmental
appraisal systems are being followed;

(b) to strengthen the environmental component

in
cooperation with the Newly Independent States, in
particular focusing on capacity-building and tech-
nical assistance under the TACIS Programme;

10. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 275/9

(c) to strengthen the environmental component of
cooperation with the countries of Asia and Latin
America in accordance with Council Regulation
(EEC) No 443/92 of 25 February 1992 on financial
and technical assistance to, and economic co-
operation with, the developing countries in Asia
and Latin America (1) and with general guidelines
for cooperation between the Community and the
regions concerned;

(d) to promote active participation in regional confer-
ences and treaties in Europe and the ‘Environment
for Europe process';

(e) to support

international work in the field of

sustainable development indicators;

(f)

to work towards the strengthening of provisions on
enforcement and dispute settlement when inter-
national agreements come up for revision;

(g) to take an active part in negotiations on the adop-
tion of a legally binding instrument establishing a
prior informed consent procedure covering trade in
certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides.

6. In relation to trade and the environment, the priority

objectives of the Community shall be:

(a)

to seek to ensure that the WTO rules, provisions
and procedures take full account of the need to
promote a high level of environmental protection,
in particular as regards the general provisions;

(b) actively to participate in international discussions,
in particular in the WTO, dealing with the issue of
trade and the environment, where the Community,
in accordance with the general aim of sustainable
development, will promote a balanced approach to
the respective concerns of the environment and
trade focusing on the integration of environmental
requirements into the multilateral trading system;

(c) to give preference to multilateral solutions to trade
and environmental problems, respecting environ-
mental and trade principles and promoting trans-
parency in the definition and implementation of
environmental measures, including new environ-
mental policy instruments.

SECTION 2

OTHER ISSUES TO WHICH PARTICULAR ATTEN-
TION WILL BE GIVEN

Article 7

Improving the basis for environmental policy

The Community will ensure that its environmental policy
is based on reliable and comparable data, statistics and

(1) OJ L 52, 27. 2. 1992, p. 1.

indicators, on sound scientific information and on an
assessment of the costs and benefits of action or the lack
of action. It will ensure coordination of, and cooperation
with, the appropriate Community institutions and bodies
and will cooperate with the relevant institutions at inter-
national level. The European Environment Agency has a
key role in monitoring and reporting on the state of the
environment.

Particular attention will be given to:

(a)

identifying and filling the gaps in current basic statist-
ical data on the environment, developing the integra-
tion of environmental aspects into the data and statist-
ics which relate to other policies and ensuring the
accessibility of this data;

(b) promoting the development of environmental indic-
ators, performance indicators on all relevant policy
issues and indicators for sustainable development as
benchmark indicators to measure progress towards
sustainable development and to provide a basis for the
setting of objectives and operational targets;

(c)

improving coordination in the development of and
securing mutual feedback between scientific research
and development policies and environmental policy;

(d) further developing the use of economic evaluation
(cost effectiveness,

techniques for the environment
cost/benefit and business impact techniques);

(e) developing auxiliary or satellite accounts to national
accounts as a first step towards the integration of
environmental
and
Community accounting concepts and practices with
the aim of drawing up a comprehensive system of
green national accounting by 1999.

into Member States’

aspects

Article 8

Sustainable production and consumption patterns

The Community will further develop its efforts to facil-
itate and enhance innovation in industry in relation to
sustainable development and promote awareness and
changes in behaviour by industry and consumers with a
view to moving towards more sustainable patterns of
production and consumption.

Article 9

Shared responsibility and partnership

The Community will
encourage practical ways of
improving shared action and partnership approaches to

L 275/10

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

10. 10. 98

ensure sustainable development. It will develop better
forms of dialogue and ensure that an appropriate mix of
actors is involved in the preparation and implementation
of its policies and actions.

tion to those actions which can be carried out most
effectively at Community level.

Article 10

Promotion of local and regional initiatives

The Community will further encourage activities at local
and regional level on issues fundamental to the achieve-
ment of sustainable development.

To this end, particular attention will be given to:

(a)

further promoting the potential of spatial planning as
an instrument to facilitate sustainable development,
taking forward Europe 2000+ and assisting the devel-
opment of
the European Spatial Development
Perspective as a basis for creating consensus among
policy-makers, inter alia in relation to the environ-
mental impact of sectoral development policies;

(b) developing a comprehensive approach to urban issues
with special emphasis on the assistance required to
support actions by local authorities to implement the
Programme and Local Agenda 21;

(c) promoting the exchange of experience between local
authorities in relation to sustainable transport initi-
atives;

(d) developing a demonstration programme on integrated
management of coastal zones with a view to showing
the impact of improved information and concertation
mechanisms for the implementation of sustainable
development, and identifying the need for further
action at Community and other levels;

(e) developing a strategy to encourage local development
to contribute to the
initiatives
areas, where appropriate

and employment
conservation of natural
supported by the Structural Funds;

(f) encouraging measures in vulnerable areas in line with
the Convention to Combat Desertification, focusing
on reducing the phenomenon by means of manage-
ment policy and the sustainable use of natural
resources as well as better dissemination of informa-
tion and coordination of ongoing actions.

Article 11

Environmental themes

The Community will further develop its policies in rela-
tion to the environmental themes of the Programme on
the basis of high standards of environmental protection
and will, in relation to these themes, give specific atten-

1. In relation to climate change and ozone depletion,
the Community will step up its efforts to fulfil the
objectives of
the Climate Convention and the
Montreal Protocol.

Particular attention will be given to:

(a) policies and measures necessary for the achieve-
ment of reduction objectives in accordance with
the Berlin mandate for carbon dioxide (CO2) and
other greenhouse gases to be attained within spe-
cified time-frames such as by 2005, 2010 and
2020;

(b) strengthening Community control measures in
respect of substances which deplete the ozone
layer and stepping up research directed at finding
suitable substitutes for these substances;

2. In relation to acidification and air quality, particular

attention will be given to:

(a) developing and implementing a strategy with the
goal of ensuring that critical loads, in relation to
exposure to acidifying, eutrophying and photo-
chemical air pollutants, are not exceeded;

(b) establishing or amending quality objectives with
respect to specific pollutants, with the goal of
ensuring that critical loads/levels for eco-systems
are not
and developing common
procedures for the assessment and monitoring of
air quality.

exceeded,

3. In relation to the protection of water

resources,
particular attention will be given to developing a
comprehensive framework setting out an integrated
planning and management approach to groundwater
and surface water resources, which will focus on both
quantitative and qualitative aspects. Moreover, it will
contribute to the sustainable management of seas
around Europe.

4. In relation to waste management, the Community
take steps to update and develop its waste-
will
management strategy in the light of the European
Parliament resolution of 14 November 1996 (1) and of
resolution of 24 February 1997 (2),
the Council
including the hierarchy they propose, and in the
context of relevant legislation.

(1) OJ C 362, 2. 12. 1996, p. 241.
(2) OJ C 76, 11. 3. 1997, p. 1.

10. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 275/11

5. In relation to noise, particular consideration will be
given to the development of a noise abatement
programme which could address comprehensively the
provision of
information to the public, common
noise exposure indices, and targets for noise quality
and noise emissions from products.

6. In relation to nature protection and biodiversity, the
Community will devise a strategy for the conservation
and sustainable exploitation of biodiversity in relevant
sectoral or multisectoral plans, programmes and pol-
icies and, in the implementation of its other policies,
will ensure full integration of nature protection and
biodiversity concerns. In relation to the implementa-
tion of new reforms, it will ensure that the impact
thereof on biodiversity is assessed. Consideration will
be given to set-aside in order to recreate permanent
natural zones. Consideration will be given to migra-
tion routes and the role of buffer zones in the context
of the European network of protected sites (Natura
2000) and the implementation of Council Directive
92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of
natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (1).

7. In relation to the management of risks and accidents,

particular attention will be given to:

(a) reviewing existing legislation on the export and
import of dangerous chemicals, in particular in
informed
relation to the principle of prior
consent;

(b) developing further measures in the area of agricul-
tural and non-agricultural pesticides with a view
to ensuring their sustainable use;

(c) framing and presenting a strategy which will lead,
inter alia, to further development of policies to
address fully Agenda 21 with respect to hazardous
chemicals, with particular attention to the precau-
tionary principle, to information on risks to users
and to making the work on the substitution or
phasing-out of hazardous chemicals more effi-
cient;
the safe management of all hazardous
chemicals needs to be improved;

(d) drawing up an action plan with a view to speeding
up the risk assessment of hazardous substances on
the Einecs list, giving priority to the most haz-
ardous substances;

(e) further reviewing the regulatory framework for

new technologies.

8. The Community will,

in accordance with the
Programme, aim to take some positive steps to reduce
by 50 % the number of vertebrate animals used for
experimental purposes by the year 2000 and to make
available statistical data on animal experimentation,
particularly with regard to the use of primates and
with the short-term objective of prohibiting the use of
wild-caught primates.

9. Particular attention will be given to consideration of
the fourth report
from the Commission to the
Council on the situation and prospects for radioactive
waste management in the European Union.

10. Following the review of existing Community legisla-
tion which is planned before the end of the trans-
itional period in line with the Act concerning the
conditions of accession of Austria, Finland and
Sweden, namely Articles 69, 84 and 112 thereof
respectively,
and the
Council note the Commission’s intention to submit a
report to them on the results of that review and on
the actions that it has deemed it necessary to take and
possible implications for other legislation and for the
Programme.

the European Parliament

Done at Brussels, 24 September 1998

For the European
Parliament

The President
J. M. GIL-ROBLES

For the Council

The President
J. FARNLEITNER

(1) OJ L 206, 22. 7. 1992, p. 7. Directive as last amended by

Directive 97/62/EC (OJ L 305, 8. 11. 1997, p. 42).

L 275/12

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

10. 10. 98

Commission statement relating to Article 2(1)(a)a (on agriculture) about its
proposals for the CAP

(1)

In the Agenda 2000 proposals the Commission indicates that there is a need to give a new
impetus to the CAP and to reflect the integration of the environmental protection
requirements into the other community policies. The Commission’s proposals on the
reform of the EU agricultural policy are designed to ensure that the Europan model for
agricultural policy are designed to ensure that the European model for agriculture can be
sustained in the long term, to the benefit not only of the agricultural industry, but also
consumers, employment, environment and for society as a whole.

The Commission proposals provide an integrated approach including:

— a reinforced rural development pillar to be further developed in the future, embracing,
strengthened agri-environment measures
regional
programmes, area-based support for sustainable farming in less favoured areas, forestry
training,
measures including sustainable managment practices and environmental
— the budget for agri-environmental measures can be expanded in particular through the

compulsory elements of

as

funds available from aid reduction linked to environmental conditions,

— further reductions in market support prices compensated via an increase in direct

payments.

According to these proposals, Member states will be obliged to undertake environmental
measures, including those relating to the protection of biodiversity, groundwater, drinking
water and landscapes. In fulfilling this obligation, Member States have three options at
their disposal:

— the agri-environmental measures being part of rural programmes,
— mandatory environmental legislation the enforcement of which can be supported by

reducing direct payments in the case of non-respect,

— specific environmental requirements being a conditions for the receipt of direct

payments under the market organisations.

In the case of beef and dairy, national envelopes are stablished for a part of the payments,
which can be linked to environmental standards. In addition the extensification premium
will be made more effective under stricter conditions.

The Commission is confident that this reform once adopted will prepare the ground for
more sustainable forms of agriculture and rural development in the European Union.

Commission statement relating to Article 2(4)(d) on environmental liability

(2)

In accordance with its work programme, the Commission will shortly adopt a White Paper
on environmental liability. This White Paper will consider the need for Community
legislative action in this field, in particular in the form of a framework directive.

10. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 275/13

Commission statement relating to Article 4, second paragraph, points (d) to (g)
on enforcement

(3)

The Commission will give details of Member States’ performance in implementing and
enforcing Community environmental legislation both in the relevant expanded chapter
and enclosures in its Annual report on monitoring the application of Community law and
in its Annual survey on the environment. The details will include, inter alia, information
on the number of complaints received,
the number of matters investigated by the
Commission, the number of matter brought before the Court of Justice, the findings of the
Court and any follow up action taken by the Commission.

Commission statement relating to Article 11(4) on waste management

(4)

The Commission will as appropriate further develop the Community hierarchy of waste
management principles and in considering initiatives, will respect the optimum use of this
hierarchy.