Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament - 2005 Environment Policy Review {SEC(2006) 218}
Date: 2006-02-16
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU environmental policy, biodiversity, climate change, innovation, natural resources, sustainable development

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 16.2.2006 
COM(2006) 70 final 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION 
TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 

2005 Environment Policy Review 

{SEC(2006) 218} 

EN 

   EN 

 
  
 
 
 
INTRODUCTION 

2005 was a year of challenges for environment policy. Taking a broad view, three main sets 
of events defined the year: 

•  Major  steps  have  been  taken  in  the  fight  against  climate  change.  The  Kyoto 
Protocol entered into force and the world’s biggest emissions trading scheme for 
CO2 began in the EU. The Montreal Climate Change Conference paved the way 
for post-2012 global action, including ways to engage countries currently outside 
Kyoto commitments. 

•  The foundations of the next generation of environment policy were laid with the 
Commission’s  adoption  by  January  2006  of  5  thematic  strategies.  They  frame 
actions  for  the  next  two  decades  on:  Air  pollution,  Marine  environment,  Urban 
environment, Use of resources, and Waste.  Work  on  another  2  –  Soil  protection 
and  Pesticides  –  has  progressed  well,  with  adoption  expected  in  early  2006.  In 
addition,  important  progress  has  been  made  in  the  Council  and  Parliament  on 
Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH), on course for 
2006 adoption. 

•  The  review1  of  the  EU  Sustainable  Development  Strategy  provided  a  new 
framework  for  addressing  long-term  economic,  social  and  environmental  trends 
and their synergies. The renewal of the Lisbon strategy for Growth and Jobs and 
the production of national reform programmes by Member States highlighted the 
role  of  environment  in  growth,  competitiveness  and  employment2.  All  this 
happened  against  a  backdrop  of  pressure  on  natural  resources  worldwide, 
increased  oil  prices  and  climate-related  disasters  in  Europe,  which  showed  the 
dependence of our economies and societies on the environment. 

This Review describes the most important issues for EU environment policy during 2005. In 
the first chapter, it examines environment policy’s part in the Lisbon strategy for Growth and 
Jobs. It then summarises the year’s main policy developments in the four priority areas of the 
6th Environment Action Programme, presents newly released evidence, and outlines aspects of 
2006 actions3. 

1. 

ENVIRONMENT  POLICY  AND  THE  STRATEGY  FOR  GROWTH  AND 
JOBS: ECO-INNOVATION AND BETTER REGULATION 

Highlights 

Environment Policy is part of the Lisbon partnership for Growth and Jobs 

“The  European  Environment,  State  and  Outlook  2005”  prepared  by  the  European 
Environment  Agency4  reveals  that  EU  environment  policy  is  having  some  positive 
impacts,  from  nature  protection  to  air  quality.  It  also  shows  that  the  environmental 

1 
2 
3 

4 

COM(2005) 658 final. 
The European Commission's 2006 Annual Progress Report on Growth and Jobs. 
Staff Working Paper SEC(2006) xxx includes statistical data and summaries of environmental part of 
MS national reform programmes. 
http://reports.eea.eu.int/ 

                                                 
 
challenges  currently  faced  by  the  EU  are  rooted  in  unsustainable  consumption  and 
production patterns that remain the main barrier to further improvement. It points out 
that  pollution  prevention  is  cheaper  than  clean-up  and  confirms  that  efficient 
environmental protection and economic growth can go hand in hand. 

When  the  European  Council  in  March  endorsed  the  Commission  proposal  for  a 
renewed  strategy  on  Growth  and  Jobs,  Heads  of  State  and  Government  clearly 
indicated that it was to be seen in the wider context of the sustainable development 
requirement and should tap into synergies between the economic, environmental and 
social  dimensions.  This  was  reflected  by  the  adoption  of  24  integrated  guidelines, 
which  provide  guidance  to  the  Commission  and  Member  States  in  targeting  their 
reform  programmes  and  aim  at  the  promotion  of  eco-innovation5  and  better 
environmental regulation. 

Promotion of Eco-innovation 

Eco-innovation  and  environmental  technologies  can  spur  economic  growth  and 
contribute to employment objectives6. The EU eco-industries account  for about 1/3 
of the global market and employ over 2 million people, with an EU trade surplus of 
over €600 million. The sector has grown by 5% a year since the mid-90s. 

The  Member  States  in  their  national  reform  programmes  have  recognised  these 
opportunities. They focused on research and development, the promotion of energy 
efficiency, and the use of green public procurement and economic instruments such 
as taxation. 

At  the  Community  level,  the  following  actions  were  taken  to  promote  eco-
innovation: 

•  Implementation  of  the  Community’s  Environmental  Technology  Action  Plan 

(ETAP) was speeded up with Member States preparing ETAP Roadmaps 

•  A  Framework  Programme  for  Competitiveness  and  Innovation  (2007-2013)7 
earmarked a fifth of its proposed budget to support eco-innovation. The proposed 
7th  Framework  Programme  for  research  and 
technological  development 
emphasises  eco-innovation,  as  do  the  new  policy  guidelines  for  cohesion  2007-
2013. 

The role and use of Better Regulation in policy 

In 2005 the Commission put Better Regulation high on its agenda as a means to cost 
effectively achieve policy objectives. EU environmental policy was in the fore of the 
better  regulation  agenda,  in  the  design  of  new  policy  and  in  improving  the 
effectiveness of existing policy. 

5 
6 
7 

Guideline 11 also includes reform of environmentally harmful subsidies and climate change measures. 
SEC(2005) 1530. 
COM(2005) 121 final. 

                                                 
 
Enhancing New Policy Development 

Environment policy has pioneered concepts that have now become standard practice 
in  Better  Regulation,  in  particular  impact  assessment,  extensive  stakeholder 
consultation  and  an  integrated  approach  to  policy  issues.  In  2005  it  continued  with 
publication  of  4  Thematic  Strategies,  defining  short  and  medium  term  policy 
objectives based on in-depth analysis. 

For  example,  the  Thematic  Strategy  on  Air  Pollution  was  developed  through 
5 years  of  analysis.  It  built  on  an  impact  assessment  by  leading  experts, 
100 stakeholder  meetings  and  a  public  consultation  that  drew  11 000  responses.  A 
peer-reviewed,  state-of-the-art  modelling  framework  was  developed  to examine  the 
economic,  social  and  environmental  impacts  of  different  potential  policies.  It 
examined  links  between  air  pollution  and  other  domains:  human  health,  soil 
acidification, water eutrophication and further action to reduce carbon emissions. 

Both the thematic strategies and other environmental policies used detailed impact 
analysis to select the best policy instrument, and included consideration of market-
based  alternatives  to  direct  regulation.  Administrative  burden  and  impacts  on 
competitiveness  were  analysed,  allowing  synergies  to  be  identified.  For  instance, 
that  best-practice  waste 
studies  for 
minimisation could save manufacturers €2.9-4.2bn annually.8 

thematic  strategy 

the  Waste 

indicated 

Improvements  to  policy  and  effective  implementation  both  rely  on  good  data 
collection.  To  increase  access  to  data,  its  quality  and  operability  and  to  reduce 
administrative costs and data overlaps, the Commission and the EEA have promoted 
a shared information system. 

Simplification 

Meeting  existing  objectives  at  less  cost  is  the  rationale  behind  streamlining 
(or simplifying) existing legislation. The Commission has an ongoing programme, 
part of which used the thematic strategies: the Air Pollution strategy will consolidate 
five  laws  on  air  quality  into  a  shorter  one  aligning  definitions  and  reviewing 
reporting requirements. The Waste thematic strategy proposes revision of the Waste 
Framework Directive, repeal of the Waste Oils Directive and other simplification. 

8 

The Benefits of Greener Business: Cambridge Econometrics & AEAT, 4/2003. 

                                                 
 
Effectiveness and Better Implementation 

In  2005,  the  Commission  increased  its  efforts  to  help  Member  States  implement 
Community environmental law more easily and effectively through exchange of best 
practice.  Rationalising  its  handling  of  infringements,  the  Commission  launched 
“horizontal cases” (grouping several infringements together) against certain countries 
to address structural implementation deficits. Better implementation will also allow 
greater environmental results at less cost. 

Outlook for 2006 

•  The Commission  will place  increasing  emphasis  on improving implementation 
through  close  co-operation  with  Member  States.  The 
and  enforcement 
Commission intends to table a Compliance Assistance Programme for SMEs to 
help SMEs overcome any implementation difficulties 

•  The Commission plans to present a document in which opportunities and methods 
to develop the use of economic instruments in the EU environment policy will be 
highlighted  

•  The  Commission  envisages  simplifying  further  areas  of  legislation  in  the  next 
three years.9 Simplification is also a key part of wider reviews of policy, e.g. the 
review of industrial emissions policy begun in 2005 

2. 

ACHIEVEMENTS,  TRENDS  AND  OUTLOOK  IN  THE  6TH  EAP  PRIORITY 
AREAS 

2.1 

Climate change 

Highlights 

2005 was a landmark year – with the start of emission trading, entry into force of the 
Kyoto Protocol and the launch of the Second Phase of the European Climate Change 
Programme  (ECCP).  It  culminated  with  the  Montreal  Conference  that  gave  new 
momentum to global action. 

The EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) - the world’s largest - began trading. By 
placing  a  price  on  carbon  emissions  it  will  encourage  a  change  in  investment 
behaviour  from  11  500  industrial  emitters  and  provide  a  cost-effective  route  to  cut 
emissions. 

With the Council confirming that future global temperatures should not exceed 2°C 
above  pre-industrial  levels,  implying  greater  emission  reductions  in  industrialised 
countries,  the  Second  Phase  ECCP  will  start  defining  policy  in  the  household, 
industrial,  commercial  and  transport  sectors  as  well  as  adaptation  policies.  Taking 
this  forward,  the  Commission  recommended  that  aviation  emissions  should  be 
included in the EU ETS.10 

9 
10 

COM(2005)535 final. 
COM(2005) 459 final. 

                                                 
 
Earlier  in  the  year,  the  Commission  set  the  tone  for  the  international  debate  on  the 
post  2012  action  through  the  Communication  “Winning  the  battle  against  climate 
change”11, the priorities being: broadening participation of developed and developing 
countries currently outside the Kyoto Protocol, including more policy areas, boosting 
development  and  deployment  of  low  emission  technologies,  use  of  flexible  market 
based instruments and including adaptation policies. 

The  United  Nations  Climate  Change  Conference  in  Montreal  gave  new  impetus  to 
world  climate  action.  It  closed  with  the  adoption  of  over  40  decisions  that  will 
strengthen efforts to fight climate change, including: 

–  Adoption of the Kyoto Protocol rulebook (Marrakech accords) and a compliance 
regime,  setting  up  the  necessary  rules  and  procedures  to  allow  it  to  function 
properly 

–  Launch  of  the  Joint  Implementation  mechanism  and  strengthening  of  the  Clean 
Development  Mechanism  (CDM),  plus  funding  for  CDM  institutions.  This  will 
allow  EU  companies  invest  in  clean  technology  in  developing  countries  in 
exchange for emission credits and signals that clean-tech investment will remain 
worthwhile 

–  Adoption of a 5-year work programme to adapt to unavoidable effects of climate 

change  

–  Agreement with countries outside the Kyoto protocol to discuss long-term actions. 

The Commission also published a Biomass Action Plan to speed the development of 
biomass energy, cut emissions and stimulate rural areas’ economies. 

New Findings 

The  EU  will,  with  measures  in  the  pipeline  and  the  use  of  Kyoto  mechanisms, 
achieve its Kyoto target and reduce its emissions by 9.4% below base year by 201012. 
EU-25 greenhouse gases emissions increased by 1.5% from 2002 to 2003 with recent 
increases  in  coal  burning  and  household  and  service  sector  emissions.  The  most 
recent data for EU-15 emissions show a decrease of only 1.7% since 1990.13 

•  2005  appears  to  have  been  the  warmest  year  on  record  globally14  causing 

European terrestrial ecosystems to become net outputters of CO2

15 

•  Temperature  changes,  extreme  weather  and  land  use  change  are  causing  the 
release  of  greenhouse  gases  from  soils.  A  15%  decrease  in  some  UK  top  soil 
carbon  content  over  the  last  25  years  with  the  majority  believed  to  have  been 

11 
12 
13 
14 
15 

COM(2005) 35 final. 
EEA 2005. 
See also: EPICA project, Spahni et. al, Science, 310, 1317, 25/11/2005. 
NASA  
CARBOEUROPE Integrated Project, Ph. Ciais et al, Nature 03972, 23/06/2005. 

                                                 
 
released as CO2 would have negated all decreases in man-made carbon emissions 
made since 199016 

•  Atmospheric  cooling  caused  by  pollutant  particulate  matter  has  hidden  the  full 
heating effects of greenhouse gases, but this will reduce as air quality improves17 

•  The  Green  Paper  on  Energy  Efficiency18  identified  energy  savings  of  20%  by 
2020  that  reduce  the  EU  estimated  energy  bill  by  €60bn  each  year  and  cut 
greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on energy imports 

•  Venture capital investment in clean energy technology rose 150% between 2000-

2004. The renewable energy market could be worth €1.4 trillion by 202019 

Outlook for 2006 

•  The  EU  will  take  an  active  role  in  post-Montreal  dialogue  on  long-term  action, 
including a new working group on developed countries’ post 2012-commitments 
and Kyoto Protocol revision  

•  As provided for in the 2003 Directive, the EU ETS will be reviewed by mid-June. 
The addition of new sectors and new greenhouse gases will be considered, with a 
legislative proposal on aviation20 

•  The EU will continue its international efforts to move the Kyoto process forward 
in a way that includes broader participation by all major emitters, including USA, 
China and India 

•  The  Commission  will  present  an  Energy  Efficiency  Action  Plan  to  assist  in 

reducing our energy dependency, boost growth, and fight climate change 

•  The  Commission  will  publish  Communications  on  Clean  Coal  Technologies,  to 
stimulate technological development, and an EU Strategy for Biofuels proposing 
policies beyond 2010 

•  Under ECCP II, the attention to adaptation will increase  

2.2 

Biodiversity and ecosystems 

Highlights 

The  UN  Millennium  Ecosystem  Assessment 
that  “an 
unprecedented effort would be needed to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction in 
the rate of biodiversity loss at all levels”.21 Ecosystems provide ecological services, 
essential to quality of life and economic prosperity. In March the European Council 

(MEA)  concluded 

16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 

Bellamy et al, 2005. Nature, 437, 245-248. 
JRC: Aerosols Climate and Policy EUR 21391 EN. 
COM (2005) 265 final. 
www.thecarbontrust.co.uk 
COM(2005) 531 final. 
Ecosystems and Human Well Being, Biodiversity Synthesis. MEA, 2005. 

                                                 
 
stressed  the  need  for  policy  integration  “given  the  importance  of  biodiversity  for 
certain economic sectors”. 

The  Commission  integrated  biodiversity  into  the  thematic  strategies  (TS),  in 
particular: 

•  the  Marine  Environment  TS  aims  to  protect  the  resource  base  upon  which 

economic and social activities depend 

•  the  Air  Pollution  TS  will  reduce  two  of  the  main  pressures  on  biodiversity  – 

acidification and eutrophication 

Completion  of  the  Natura  2000  network  progressed  substantially.  Biodiversity 
protection  was  further  integrated  into  the  Common  Agricultural  Policy,  notably 
through the Community strategic guidelines for rural development22 and adoption of 
a  Rural  Development  Regulation23  which  provides  financing  opportunities  for 
beneficial agricultural and forestry activities and Internationally, the EU stepped up 
integration  of  biodiversity  concerns  in  its  assistance  programmes,  and  worked 
successfully for multilateral action, notably the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD). 

New Findings24 

•  Many European species remain threatened – e.g. 42% of native mammals, 15% of 

birds, and 52% of freshwater fish25 

•  Lack of attention to the linkages between biodiversity and economic development 

will put at risk the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals  

•  The great majority of ecosystem services have been degraded in the last 15 years, 

such as marine fisheries, timber production or water purification 

Outlook for 2006 

•  The Commission will table a thematic strategy on Soil Protection 

•  A Biodiversity Communication will identify key challenges and priorities to 2010 

and beyond, including optimising biodiversity benefits under existing policy 

•  The  Natura  2000  network  will  be  completed  for  the  EU-25  and  extended  to  the 

marine environment 

•  The  8th  Conference  of  the  Parties  to  the  CBD  in  March  will  work  on  a  global 
protected area network in marine areas, on further negotiations of an international 
Access and Benefit Sharing regime, and on better implementation 

22 
23 
24 
25 

COM(2005) 304 final. 
OJ L 277, 21.10.2005, p.1. 
MEA, unless stated otherwise. 
EEA. 

                                                 
 
•  The  Commission  will  launch  an  EU-wide  promotion  campaign  to  increase 
awareness  of  the  benefits  of  organic  food,  under  the  European  Action  plan  for 
Organic Food and Farming26 

2.3 

Environment and health 

Highlights 

Environmental  pollution  imposes  great  costs  on  Europe,  the  majority  from  impacts 
on health.  

The  REACH  proposal  will  provide  significant  benefits  in  terms  of  heath  and 
environment, while safeguarding the competitiveness of EU industry. It will replace 
40  existing  legal  acts  and  create  a  single  system  for  all  chemical  substances. 
Important progress was made on REACH. The proposal passed through first reading 
in European Parliament and Council reached political agreement. 

Two  strategies  –  on  air  pollution  and  mercury  –  identified  other  environment  and 
health related costs and set out measures to reduce them. There was continued work 
on the Environment and Health Action Plan. 

The  Air  pollution  TS27  found  that  with  no  further  policy  action,  the  cost  of  health 
damage due to air pollution would be €189-609bn a year by 2020. The Commission 
proposal  would  reduce  these  costs  by  between  €42-135bn  each  year  by  2020, 
preventing 60,000 more premature deaths than are avoided by existing measures. 

The  Council  endorsed  a  Mercury  strategy28  which  focused  on  limiting  releases  of 
mercury  to  the  environment  and  reducing  harm  to  health.  The  strategy  includes  a 
proposal to ban EU mercury exports by 2011 and actions to stop mercury surpluses 
re-entering the market. 

The  Commission’s  policy  work  focused  on  development  of  integrated  risk 
assessment  methodologies  for  environmental  health  impacts  so  as  to  identify  if,  or 
where,  further  action  is  beneficial.  Implementation  of  the  Environment  &  Health 
Action  Plan29  research  actions  has  focussed  on  multidisciplinary  research  projects 
on impacts of health stressors (e.g. metals). 

Illustrating  the  suitability  of  market-based  instruments,  a  revised  Directive  on  road 
charging  was  agreed  at  2nd  reading  by  the  European  Parliament,  allowing  road 
charging of lorries differentiated by their emissions and by time. 

A  Decision  set  out,  for  the  first  time,  noise  limits  for  rail  rolling  stock  to 
progressively reduce noise from rail transport. 

26 
27 
28 
29 

COM(2004) 415 final. 
COM(2005) 446 final. 
COM(2005) 20 final. 
COM(2004) 416 final. 

                                                 
 
New Findings 

•  Air pollution currently reduces the average life expectancy of Europeans by 9 to 
24 months. No additional policy action would leave some 1 million km2 of fresh 
waters, forests, soils and other habitats damaged by acid rain and eutrophication 
by 2020 

•  In  the  last  decade  the  EU-15  saw  significant  growth  in  the  production  of  toxic 

chemicals, with a trend to more dangerous substances 

Outlook for 2006 

•  The second reading and final adoption of REACH is scheduled, leading to entry 

into force in 2007 

•  The Commission will propose legislation revising the National Emission Ceilings 
Directive,  taking  forward  the  Air  Pollution  TS  and  setting  targets  for  four  key 
pollutants 

•  The  Urban  environment  TS  will  seek  to  reduce  health  impacts  –  particularly  by 
the  co-ordination  of  different  urban  policies  and  by  dissemination  and 
implementation of successful urban management practices 

•  An implementation plan for the Environment and Health Information System will 
be developed. The protocol for Human Biomonitoring will be finalised and tested, 
leading to better understanding of exposure and better policy responses 

•  The  Commission  will  propose  a  thematic  strategy  on  the  sustainable  use  of 
pesticides  to  reduce  risks  to  human  health  and  the  environment  while  allowing 
appropriate crop protection 

•  The  Commission  will  table  legislative  proposals  to  take  forward  the  mercury 

strategy 

2.4 

Resource use 

Highlights 

The EU economy consumes a relatively high level of resources: its material intensity 
is twice as high as Japan’s. This leads to dependency on imports of several resources 
and  creates  environmental  problems  outside  the  EU.  Addressing  those  issues  will 
help meet the Lisbon objectives and our global responsibilities and commitments. 

The thematic strategy on Sustainable use of natural resources provides a medium-
term framework to define action on reducing the environmental impacts of resource 
use. This will also allow improving productivity and increasing the competitiveness 
of EU companies while staying below the over-exploitation  threshold  of renewable 
resources. 

 
The thematic strategy on Prevention and recycling of waste aims to move Europe 
closer to a recycling society, seeking to avoid waste and to use waste as a resource. 
While  preserving  the  hierarchy  of  options  for  waste  management,  it  proposes  to 
revise the Waste Framework Directive to introduce life-cycle thinking and to oblige 
Member States to develop waste prevention programmes. Setting recycling standards 
will improve the functioning of a growing internal market, currently worth €95bn. 

On  the  demand  side,  the  EU  is  actively  promoting  Green  Public  Procurement 
(GPP).  A  handbook  published  in  all  EU  languages  contains  practical  advice  for 
public authorities on GPP including the purchase of new environmental technologies. 
The  Commission  adopted  a  Directive  requiring  public  bodies  to  spend  a  quarter  of 
their annual procurement of heavy vehicles on environmentally friendly vehicles30 

A European Platform on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was launched in the autumn, 
aiming at supporting business and policy making in Europe. 

Internationally,  the  new  EU  Development  Policy  includes  environment  and 
sustainable  management  of  natural  resources  as  an  action  theme  for  co-operation 
activities  and  calls  for  systematic  use  of  Strategic  Environmental  Assessment31. 
International Community actions aimed at attaining Millennium Development Goals 
have been set out in the Coherence Communication.32 

New findings  

•  The  EU  has  made  substantial  progress  on  improving  the  efficiency  of  materials 
and energy use, yet significant scope still remains for further improvements. This 
is notably the case in the 10 new member states through e.g. technology transfer.33 

•  Resource  extraction  in  Europe  has  decreased,  while  imports  of  some  resources 
have  increased  with  higher  environmental  pressures  in  other  regions  of  the 
world34. 

•  Europe's  Ecological  Footprint  is  more  than  twice  the  size  of  Europe.  Europeans 
now use 4.9 ‘average’ hectares per person, with only 1.8 available. Yearly growth 
of the EU-25's footprint since 1990 has been 3%.35 

•  7  Member  States  –  Austria,  Denmark,  Finland,  Germany,  Netherlands,  Sweden 

and the UK - make significant use of GPP. 

Outlook 2006  

•  The  Commission  will  draw  up  an  action  plan  to  promote  sustainable  production 
and  consumption,  including  global  initiatives,  building  on  instruments  such  as 
resource  and  waste  policies, 
integrated  product  policy,  environmental 
management schemes and innovation policies. 

30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
35 

COM(2005) 634 final. 
COM(2005) 311 final. 
COM(2005) 134 final. 
SOE, EEA, 2005. 
EEA 2005. 
The Global Footprint Network and WWF's Report "Europe 2005: The Ecological Footprint". 

                                                 
 
•  Amendments  to  the  EMAS  and  Eco-label  regulations  will  be  proposed  to 
maximise  environmental  benefits  and  workability.  Work  on  identifying  the 
products with the greatest potential for environmental improvement will continue, 
aiming for results in 2007. 

•  The  Commission  will  finalise  the  manual  for  integrating  environment  into 

international development cooperation. 

 
CONCLUSIONS 

This  year’s  review  highlights  the  strong  links  between  the  economy  and  the 
environment. Exploiting the synergies between the two is essential to maximise both 
well-being  and  economic  growth.  EU  citizens  are  very  conscious  of  this  –  they 
consider  that  protecting  the  environment  is  as  important  as  promoting  economic 
growth.36 This is reflected in the actions promoted by the Sustainable Development 
Strategy  and  under  the  Lisbon  agenda.  The  Commission  has  shaped  environmental 
policy measures to spur economic growth and employment, reducing trade-offs and 
promoting  win-win  solutions.  As  environment  policy  is  a  shared  responsibility, 
Member States need to engage on a similar path. 

A major effort towards this is the adoption and preparation of Thematic  Strategies. 
Completing the set of strategies and starting their implementation will be a priority in 
2006. 

Following the success of Montreal, post-2012 action on climate change will require 
strong  determination  both  to  reduce  emissions  and  to  engage  in  the  international 
process. Winning the  battle  calls  for broader participation by countries and sectors, 
the development of low-carbon technologies, and the continued and expanded use of 
market-based instruments. 

Preserving  biodiversity  is  one  of  the  most  pressing  challenges.  Both  policy 
integration and awareness need to be further enhanced. Biodiversity will therefore be 
the  core  theme  of  Green  Week  in  2006  and  the  biodiversity  communication  will 
propose an ambitious roadmap for progress. 

Boosting  policy  implementation  will  cut  the  unnecessary  costs  to  society  from 
inaction  on  environmental  issues  and  cut  distortion  of  the  internal  market  from 
different  treatment  of  companies  across  the  EU.  This  will  be  accompanied  by 
continuing  efforts  to  adapt  legislation  and  policy  to  face  new  challenges  with 
maximum efficiency. 

Obvious  pressures  on  natural  resources  in  2005  reflect  the  EU’s  unsustainable 
production and consumption patterns. Despite some progress, the pace of change is 
not  quick  enough.  These  resource  pressures  are  global,  as  are  climate  change  and 
biodiversity loss. As in 2005, the EU must show the way domestically and through 
support of international partners. 

European citizens care about the environment and think that this is an area in which 
the EU does and should bring added value at home, within its immediate neighbours 
and  globally.  Showing  that  environmental  protection  can  go  hand  in  hand  with 
economic  growth  and  social  inclusion  is  thus  an  excellent  way  of  generating  more 
enthusiasm for the European project. 

36 

Eurobarometer 215/2004.