WRITTEN QUESTION No. 244/99 by Ulf HOLM The EU's sustainable development objective
Date: 1999-02-12
Institutions: European Parliament, HOLM
Subjects: European Commission, European Council, action programme, aid system, development policy, environmental impact, environmental protection, impact study, project evaluation, sustainable development

3.12.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 348/43

(1999/C 348/052)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0244/99

by Ulf Holm (V) to the Commission

(12 February 1999)

Subject: The EU’s sustainable development objective

One of the objectives which the Treaty of Amsterdam sets for the EU is sustainable development. This
objective will in itself inevitably mean dramatic changes in many EU policy areas.

Will the Commission carry out a systematic study of EU policies in order to ascertain whether they are
compatible with sustainable development?

What action will it take so that sustainable development can be achieved?

How will it ensure that EU-funded investment and assistance, e.g. for improving infrastructure, do not increas
pressure on the environment but result instead in sustainable development?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(15 April 1999)

The Amsterdam Treaty has recognised the importance of ensuring that all Community policies make their
contribution to the protection of the environment and the achievement of sustainable development.

In order to give substance to this commitment, in June 1998 the Commission submitted to the Cardiff
European Council a document called Partnership for integration (1), identifying the importance and potential
of this commitment and calling on the heads of state to signal their support. This they did by putting in place a
process whereby each Council formation is being asked to prepare strategies for the integration of
environment into the policy area under their authority. In the first instance, the Energy, Transport and
Agriculture Councils were asked to commence this exercise and subsequently the Vienna European Council
has asked the Development, Single Market and Industry Councils to commence such an examination. The
Commission is working actively with the various Councils to support these reflections, in some cases by way of
the provision of communication and working papers.

In line with the Vienna European Council conclusions there will be an overall review of progress at the
Helsinki European Council. Alongside consideration of the global assessment the Commission is currently
preparing the operation of the fifth environmental action plan. This combined reflection will play an
important part in giving orientation to the next Commission on both the approach and position that should be
followed in establishing the programme for sustainable development and environment in the next decade.

At the level of Community funded plans and programmes, increasing emphasis is laid on prior environmental
assessment. For the new structural funds 2000-2006, the Commission proposes assessments that cover both
the environmental potential of a region as well as direct and indirect impacts on the environment of the
planned strategies and measures. The proposed partnership between the Commission and the Member State
which associates partners at different levels in the preparation, financing, monitoring and evaluation of
assistance, constitutes an additional feature for enhancing environmental integration and for promoting
sustainable development in this context.

When specific projects are submitted for Community funding, environmental
impact assessments in
accordance with Directive 85/337/EEC (2) and its amendment 97/11/EC (3) are required, where applicable,
accompanied by appropriate preventive or compensatory measures.

(1) COM(98) 333 final.
(2) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.
(3) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.