Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on incentives for EMAS registered organisations in the period 2004-2006 {SEC(2009)59}
Date: 2010-01-29
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: European organisation, application of EU law, environmental monitoring, environmental protection, management audit, management information system, report

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EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Brussels, 29.1.2010 
COM(2010)6 final 

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND 
THE COUNCIL 

on incentives for EMAS registered organisations in the period 2004-2006 

{SEC(2009)59} 

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REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND 
THE COUNCIL 

on incentives for EMAS registered organisations in the period 2004-2006 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

1. 

2. 

Introduction .................................................................................................................. 3 

Types of external incentives......................................................................................... 3 

2.1 

Regulatory flexibility ................................................................................................... 4 

2.2. 

Promotional incentives................................................................................................. 5 

2.2.1 

Information support...................................................................................................... 5 

2.2.2 

Funding support ........................................................................................................... 6 

2.2.3 

Technical support ......................................................................................................... 7 

2.2.4 

Public Procurement ...................................................................................................... 8 

3 

3.1 

3.2 

Resume of findings for each group of indicators ......................................................... 9 

Regulatory Flexibility .................................................................................................. 9 

Promotional incentives............................................................................................... 10 

3.2.1 

Information Support ................................................................................................... 10 

3.2.2 

Funding Support......................................................................................................... 10 

3.2.3 

Technical Support ...................................................................................................... 11 

3.2.4 

Public Procurement .................................................................................................... 12 

4. 

Conclusions ................................................................................................................ 12 

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1. 

INTRODUCTION 

Regulation (EC) No 761/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 
March 2001 allowing voluntary participation by organisations in a Community Eco-
management  and  audit  scheme  (EMAS)1  establishes  a  system  under  which 
organisations  evaluate,  manage  and  continuously  improve  their  environmental 
performance. 

Organisations  can  benefit  in  many  ways  from  implementing  EMAS.  More 
sustainable  use  of  resources  generate  financial  advantages,  a  better  public  image,  a 
reduced risk of non-compliance with legal requirements relating to the environment; 
improved relations with environmental regulators and other stakeholders, and proper 
risk  management,  which  in  turn  may  prompt  lenders  and  insurers  to  offer  more 
advantageous financial terms. 

Article  10  (2)  of  the  Regulation  calls  upon  Member  States  to  consider  how 
registration  under  EMAS  may  be  taken  into  account  in  the  implementation  and 
enforcement  of  environmental  legislation in  order  to  avoid  unnecessary  duplication 
of effort by both organisations and enforcement authorities. 

Article 11 (1) and (2) oblige Member States to promote organisations' participation 
in EMAS, in particular by considering how registration under EMAS may be taken 
into account when setting criteria for their procurement policies. 

Article 11(3) of the EMAS Regulation obliges the European Commission to transmit 
to  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council  information  relating  to  the  above 
described promotional activities received from Member States. 

This report meets this obligation. It describes the types of incentive measures applied 
in different Member States and provides a resume of the findings for each group of 
indicators. 

The  working  document  accompanying  this  Communication  contains  detailed 
information provided by the Member States regarding the incentive measures and the 
indicators defined in this report as well as statistics regarding indicators and, where 
Member  States  have  defined  these  as  such,  best  practices  because  of  the  positive 
result of specific incentive measures. 

The  main  purpose  of  this  report  is  to  inform  the  European  Parliament  and  the 
Council  and  to  raise  awareness  of  national  authorities  about  different  national 
practices. 

2. 

TYPES OF EXTERNAL INCENTIVES 

The nature of the incentives provided by national authorities varies and depends on 
the aims pursued. 

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OJ L 114, 24.4.2001, p. 1 

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Two main groups of incentives have been identified: 

(a) 

regulatory flexibility 

(b) 

promotional incentives through: 

– 

– 

– 

– 

public procurement 

funding support 

technical support 

information support 

2.1 

Regulatory flexibility 

For the purpose of this report the term regulatory flexibility includes: 

– 

– 

regulatory relief, construed as substitution of legal requirements without 
changes in environmental legislation as such 

deregulation, which involves changes in the legislation itself 

Regulatory flexibility aims at: 

– 

– 

– 

– 

simplifying  and  reducing  the  regulatory  framework  in  cases  of 
redundancy 

removing procedural impediments 

reducing  the  need  to  submit  unnecessary  and  repetitive  documents  to 
the regulator 

fostering responsible behaviour of operators 

Article 10(2) of the Regulation provides the legal base for Member States to consider 
how  EMAS  registration  can  be  taken  into  account  in  the  implementation  and 
enforcement of environmental legislation.  

The EMAS-Regulation sets out strict requirements regarding compliance with legal 
requirements  relating  to  the  environment  since  it  requests  the  independent  and 
external verifiers to verify that the organisation demonstrates full legal compliance. 
In compensation, some Member States have granted regulatory flexibility to EMAS-
registered  organisations  so  as  to  alleviate  the  burden  of  regulatory  pressure  and 
streamline their own resources. 

The  following  indicators  have  been  defined  to  estimate  the  use  of  the  regulatory 
flexibility. 

Indicator  1  relates  to  information  required  for  permits  and  the  streamlining  of 
applications  and  shows  the  number  of  legislative  texts,  agreements  or  other 
documents  the  Member  State  have  in  place  for  reducing  permitting  procedures  for 
EMAS  registered  organisations.  The rationale behind this  incentive is that  much of 

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the  information  required  for  permit  applications  is  collected  through  the  EMAS 
system, which provide reliable, up to date and suitable for use information. 

the  Member  State  has 

Indicator  2  relates  to  the  reduction  or  consolidation  of  reporting  and  monitoring 
requirements  and  shows  the  number  of  legislative  texts,  agreements  or  other 
documents 
the 
reduction/consolidation  of  reporting  and  monitoring  requirements.  The  rationale 
behind  this  incentive  is  the  fact  that  the  environmental  statement  the  competent 
authorities  provides  with  data  and  information  that  can  be  used  for  subsequent 
reporting and/or monitoring purposes thus, avoiding duplication of tasks. 

to  proceed  with 

in  order 

Indicator  3  relates  to  the  reduction  of  the  number  of  inspections  and  shows  the 
number of legislative text, agreements or other documents the Member State has in 
place for reducing the number of inspections. Rationale behind this incentive is the 
fact that national enforcement resources are scarce. Given that the implementation of 
legislation,  registered 
EMAS  facilitates 
companies can be subject to fewer or limited inspections. 

the  compliance  with  environmental 

2.2. 

Promotional incentives 

Article 11 (1) of the Regulation lays down requirements to ensure the promotion of 
organisations’ participation in EMAS. This Article makes a special reference to the 
promotion  of  EMAS  amongst  SMEs  through  information,  support  funds  and 
ensuring  reasonable  registration  fees,  public  institutions  and  public  procurement 
technical assistance measures. 

Article  11(2)  of  the  Regulation  provides  the  basis  for  promoting  EMAS  widely 
through  procurement  practices.  It  requires  public  authorities  to  consider  how 
registration under EMAS could be taken into account when setting criteria for their 
procurement policies. 

Promotional incentives can be provided in the following main areas: 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Information support 

Funding support 

Technical support 

Public procurement 

2.2.1 

Information support 

The main types of information support provided in the Member States are: 

– 

– 

information  programmes  customised  for  economic  operators,  small 
industries  and  craft  trades,  trade  unions,  public  authorities,  and  the 
general public 

information campaigns aimed at specific interest groups and the general 
public,  supported  by  television  campaigns,  articles  in  specialist 

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publications and local newspapers, promotional campaigns or any other 
means of promoting general awareness 

– 

conferences and workshops to foster active participation, and exchange 
of experiences and best practices 

The following indicators have been defined to analyse the use of information support 
as an incentive: 

Indicator  1:  Number  of  different  documents  created  to  increase  awareness  and  to 
inform about EMAS (brochures, information material, leaflets, etc.) 

Indicator  2:  Number  of  different  publications  (articles,  newsletters,  newspapers, 
technical  magazines,  advertisements  campaigns,  EMAS  logo  diffusion,  etc.), 
showing the different ways used for transmission of information on EMAS 

Indicator  3:  Number  of  different  meetings  organised  with  the  aim  of  providing 
information  on  EMAS  (conferences,  workshops,  campaigns,  voluntary  activities, 
seminars, awards ceremonies, exhibitions, forums, fairs, etc.) 

Indicator 4: Number of websites for EMAS information (when there is more than one 
Competent Body) 

Indicator  5:  Number  of  tools  under  the  control  of  member  States  for  controlling, 
monitoring,  and  EMAS  registration,  etc.  (when  there  is  more  than  one  Competent 
Body) 

Indicator 6: Number of different contacts with organisations non EMAS registered to 
inform  about  EMAS  (letters,  mailing,  etc.),  showing  the  different  ways  to  contact 
with the organisations 

Indicator  7:  Number  of  different  contacts  with  EMAS  registered  organisations  to 
distribute  information  on  EMAS  (letters,  mailing,  etc.),  showing  the  different  ways 
of contact with the organisations 

2.2.2 

Funding support 

The main types of financial support provided in the Member States are: 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Subsidies  to  new  EMAS  registrations  in  the  form  of  lump  sums  or  a 
percentage of total costs incurred 

Tax  breaks  on  purchases  designed 
performance which are an indirect way of providing funds 

to 

improve  environmental 

Special  funds  for  technical  assistance,  staff  training  and  external 
consulting; 

Reduced registration fees 

Finally,  preferable  conditions  for  EMAS-registered  companies  negotiated  with 
bankers and insurers 

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The following indicators have been defined to analyse the use of the funding support 
as an incentive: 

Indicator 1 shows the number of legislative texts, agreements or other documents the 
Member State has related to EMAS funding 

Indicator 2 shows the budget allocated to finance the implementation of EMAS (not 
including salary of staff) 

Indicator  3  relates  to  financial  support  for  new  EMAS  registrations  and  shows  the 
percentage  of  financial  support  spent  in  relation  with  the  total  funding  for  new 
EMAS registrations. 

Indicator  4  relates  to  subsidies  and  financial  support  for  EMAS  registered 
organisations and shows the percentage of financial support spent in relation with the 
total funding for EMAS registered organisations. 

Indicator 5 relates to tax reductions on purchases designed to improve environmental 
performance and shows the support for the organisations in the purchases related to 
environmental performance 

Indicator  6  relates  to  special  financial  support  for:  pilot  projects,  promotion 
programmes,  environmental  agreements,  etc.  and  shows  other  ways  of  funding 
support for the organisations 

Indicator 7 shows the reduction in the registration fees for the organisations 

Indicator  8  relates  to  advantages  available  for  EMAS  registered  organisations  and 
shows the number of banks that offer advantages to EMAS registered organisations 
(cheap loans to implement EMAS, etc.) 

Indicator 9 shows the number of insurers that offer advantages to EMAS registered 
organisations,  illustrating  shows  how  EMAS  registration  can  provide  insurance 
advantages to organisations 

2.2.3 

Technical support 

The main types of technical assistance provided in the Member states are: 

– 

– 

– 

Educational programmes in co-operation with relevant associations, e.g. 
Chambers  of  Industry  and  Commerce,  or  under  the  supervision  of  the 
national EMAS body 

Phased  implementation  programmes  especially  designed  for  SMEs. 
These  systems  are  designed  to  help  SMEs  reach  environmental 
excellence at different levels depending on their particular needs 

Synergies  involving  all  the  actors  in  environmental  management 
systems,  e.g.  working  groups,  partnerships,  peer  reviews  and 
customised coaching 

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– 

– 

Short- and long-term investment by the authorities to educate and train 
professionals through specialised programmes 

Guidelines and toolkits for specific sectors 

The  following  indicators  have  been  defined  to  analyse  the  use  of  the  technical 
support as an incentive: 

Indicator  1:  Number  of  documents  created  to  provide  support  and  showing  the 
procedure  to  follow  in  the  implementation  of  EMAS  (manuals,  guides,  toolkits, 
guidance, guidelines, handbooks, interactive CD, studies, etc.)  

Indicator 2: Number of programmes for phased implementation of EMAS, especially 
created to help organisations to reach better environmental management at different 
levels depending on their particular needs 

Indicator  3:  number  of  educational  programmes  (training,  courses,  activities,  etc.) 
designed to provide technical support to organisations 

Indicator  4:  Number  of  synergies  involving  all  the  actors  in  environmental 
management  systems,  such  as  working  groups,  partnerships,  peer  reviews, 
customised coaching, networks, clubs for information, etc. This indicator shows the 
different ways that organisations can exchange information related to EMAS 

Indicator  5:  number  of  projects  and  other  (pilot)  programmes  carried  out  to  give 
technical support to organisations in the implementation of EMAS 

Indicator  6:  Number  of  other  specific  regulations  (standards)  which  help  to 
implement EMAS 

2.2.4 

Public Procurement 

Public  purchasers  and  other  entities  covered  by  the  public  procurement  Directives 
constitute an important group of consumers. Some €1,000 billion or about 16% of the 
Union’s  GDP 
is  spent  on  public  procurement.  Integrating  environmental 
considerations  into  public  procurement  could  substantially  contribute to sustainable 
development. If, wherever appropriate, public purchasers referred to EMAS in their 
calls for tenders, this would help to increase awareness of the scheme and act as an 
incentive for contractors to join it. 

Article  11(2)  of  the  Regulation  provides  the  basis  for  promoting  EMAS  widely 
through  procurement  practices.  It  requires  public  authorities  to  consider  how 
registration under EMAS could be taken into account when setting criteria for their 
procurement policies. 

The  public  procurement  Directives2  allow  for  the  application  of  a  requirement  that 
bidders  apply  environmental  management  measures  when  executing  specific  works 
or  service  contracts  such  as  the  construction  of  a  bridge  in  a  nature  reserve 
necessitating  the  need  for  continuous  environmental  management  and  adoption  of 

2 

Directive 2004/17/EC and Directive 2004/18/EC of 31 March 2004 

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specific  protection  measures  during  the  works.  In  these  cases  EMAS  or  any  other 
equivalent  environmental  management  system  could  be  provided  as  evidence  of 
compliance with the requirement to adopt environmental management measures. 

Indicator 1 reflects the use of procurement as an incentive in the different Member 
States and shows the number of documents that a Member State has in place related 
with the application of public procurement. 

3 

RESUME OF FINDINGS FOR EACH GROUP OF INDICATORS 

3.1 

Regulatory Flexibility 

A small increase of the regulatory flexibility has been detected. However, only four 
Member  States  (Germany,  Slovakia,  Spain  and  the  United  Kingdom)  apply 
incentives  related  to  all  three  indicators  defined  and  twelve  Member  States  do  not 
provide such incentives at all. 

Germany developed  most  legislative texts in this area. Austria, Belgium, Denmark, 
Italy,  Portugal,  Netherlands,  Slovakia,  Slovenia,  Spain  and  United  Kingdom 
developed different documents as well. 

Cyprus,  Czech  Republic,  France  and  Lithuania  started  developing  different  texts  to 
give regulatory benefits to EMAS registered organisations. 

As  regards  the  application  for  permits  or  reduced  reporting  and  monitoring 
requirements, some Member States foresee specific and limited situations where an 
EMAS  registered  organisation  will  have  benefits.  In  most  of  these  cases,  reporting 
obligations are reduced or simpler procedures are available for permit applications in 
the fields of IPPC, waste management, landfill permits, water and emissions. There 
is  a  predominance  of  IPPC  related  incentives  (Cyprus,  Lithuania,  Slovakia,  Spain 
and  the United  Kingdom). Although it  is an  incentive that is highly appreciated  by 
the  business  community,  it  does  not  apply  to  all  sectors  of  industry  and  has, 
therefore, a limited potential. 

Other  Member  States  have  given  EMAS  registered  organisations  broader  reporting 
exemptions,  whenever  the  organisations  comply  with  their  obligations  in  an 
equivalent  manner,  and  without  specifying  situations.  This  kind  of  broad  benefit 
provides the greatest potential, since it can lead to benefits tailored to each specific 
organisation. However, in the interest of legal certainty, and to facilitate the practical 
application of these incentives, a link to specific permit application procedures or to 
specific monitoring or reporting obligations could be useful. As regards inspections, 
the benefit can either be a reduction on the number of inspections, or a reduction on 
the fee to be paid for the inspections. In some cases, the fee reduction is not directly 
linked  to  the  EMAS  registration,  but  arises  from  the  fact  that  inspections  will 
generally require less time and effort from the authorities. 

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3.2 

Promotional incentives 

3.2.1 

Information Support 

Information  support  increased  over  the  period  2004-2006.  The  type  of  support 
ranged  from  publication  of  brochures,  leaflets,  newspaper  and  magazine  articles  to 
the  organisation  of  events  such  as  conferences  or  workshops.  All  Member  States 
have at least one website providing information on EMAS. 

In  general,  all  information  material  was  specifically  designed  to  inform  about  and 
promote  EMAS.  The  majority  of  organised  events  was  dedicated  to  EMAS,  but  in 
some  cases  EMAS  was  referenced  as  part  of  a  broader  subject,  like  environmental 
sustainability or other environmental management schemes (Czech Republic, Estonia 
and the Netherlands). 

Most  of  the  organised  conferences  and  the  information  material  that  was  provided 
gave  general  information  about  the  scheme  and  the  steps  necessary  to  become  an 
EMAS  registered  organisations.  Conferences  or  information  material  designed  for 
one  specific  sector  of  activity  was  provided  in  Greece,  Italy,  Latvia,  Portugal, 
Slovakia,  Slovenia  and  Spain.  Although  general  information  is  always  necessary, 
support  directed  at  specific  sectors  can  be  of  particular  interest  and  benefit  to 
organisations, and may lead to a higher uptake of the scheme. 

In  Austria,  Cyprus,  Finland,  Germany,  Romania,  Spain,  Netherlands  and  United 
Kingdom periodical EMAS meetings were organised on the same issues (mostly on a 
yearly  basis).  In  general,  activities  organised  were  periodical  and  one-time  events 
being the exception. 

Less common types of support used were the organisation of national EMAS Award 
events,  TV  promotional  short  films  (Poland  and  Portugal)  and  the  production  of 
EMAS related "gadgets" (Poland). 

Information  support  measures  for  EMAS  focus  generally  on  EMAS  registered 
organisations,  but  also  measures  specifically  focussing  on  non  EMAS  registered 
organisations  are  in  place  (Cyprus,  Estonia,  Finland,  France,  Germany,  Greece, 
Hungary,  Latvia,  Lithuania,  Norway,  Poland,  Portugal,  Romania,  Slovakia,  Spain, 
Netherlands  and  United  Kingdom.  Contact  with  registered  organisations  was  also 
frequent. 

Even  though  the  information  support  incentives  are  available  for  all  organisations, 
including  SME's,  some  Member  States  provide  incentives  especially  destined  for 
SME's (Cyprus, Lithuania, Slovakia and Spain). 

As  regards  the  budget  dedicated  to  providing  information  support  for  EMAS,  an 
increasing  trend  is  apparent  in  a  number  of  Member  States  (Germany,  Greece, 
Poland, Spain, Estonia, France, Latvia, and Romania). 

3.2.2 

Funding Support 

The  number  of  texts  related  to  EMAS  funding  increased  slightly.  Some  texts  have 
been  developed  in  relation  with  EMAS  funding  in  Czech  Republic,  Germany, 
Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain and United Kingdom. 

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The  budget  allocated  to  EMAS  has  increased  remarkably  with  almost  400%. 
Particularly remarkable is the large amount allocated to EMAS in Spain. 

The  budget  allocated  to  EMAS  was  used  mainly  for  conferences  and  seminars  and 
different  events  and  for  the  elaboration  of  publications  such  as  guide  books, 
brochures, etc. In some cases, the budget also covered costs of the competent body. 

Financial support for new EMAS registrations does not represent a big amount. It is 
provided Germany, Greece, Slovakia, Spain, United Kingdom and Portugal. 

In  relation  with  financial  support  to  EMAS  registered  organisations  the  situation  is 
similar, with support from: Slovakia, Spain, France and United Kingdom. 

No  tax  reductions  on  purchases  designed  to  improve  environmental  performance 
were foreseen by Member States. 

Special financial support for pilot projects, promotional programmes, environmental 
agreements,  etc,  has  increased  but  the  number  of  Member  States  providing  such 
support  is  limited  (Finland,  Spain,  Austria,  Czech  Republic,  Ireland,  Latvia  and 
Portugal). 

Funding related incentives for EMAS registration in the form of reduction or absence 
of  registration  fees  increased.  No  registration  fees  are  due  in  Belgium,  Cyprus, 
Estonia,  France,  Greece,  Hungary,  Latvia,  the  Netherlands,  Italy  (for  public 
authorities)  and  Spain  (except  in  the  autonomous  region  of  Murcia)  and  reduced 
registration  fees  are  due  in  Denmark,  Finland,  Germany,  Lithuania,  Romania,  Italy 
and United Kingdom.  

To  the  exception  of  Italy  where  some  banks  and  a  large  number  of  insurance 
companies  give  advantages  to  EMAS  registered  organisations  and  Slovakia  (one 
bank gives such advantages), banks or insurance companies do not give advantages 
to EMAS registered organisations as a general policy. 

As  regards  support  given  to  SME's,  the  absence  of  fees  is  without  a  doubt  a  good 
incentive benefiting SME's, as well as other organisations. Finland, Romania and the 
United Kingdom take into account the size of the organisation when determining the 
reduction of the fees, or limit the reduction to SME's. Apart from the fees, funding 
support  specifically  directed  at  SME's  is  available  in  the  Czech  Republic,  Greece, 
Italy, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain and the United Kingdom. 

3.2.3 

Technical Support 

Technical support has increased in the period 2004-2006. 

Documents for technical assistance, such as manuals, guidelines, handbooks, etc. and 
of  synergies  involving  all  the  actors  in  environmental  management  systems  were 
created  in  the  majority  of  Member  States  (Austria,  Belgium,  Czech  Republic, 
Estonia,  Finland,  France,  Greece,  Germany,  Hungary,  Italy,  Latvia,  Lithuania, 
Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain and Netherlands) 

Even  though  the  majority  of  these  documents  and  programmes  were  meant  for  all 
industry  sectors,  some  Member  States  have  developed  manuals  and  guides  for 

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specific sectors such as hospitals, sports facilities and sports events (Greece); public 
services  (Belgium);  the  chemistry,  food,  pharmaceutical,  electrical/electronic  and 
other  sectors  (Spain);  food  and  drinks  and  furniture  sector  (United  Kingdom). 
Specific  guidance  for  local  authorities  was developed in  Estonia, Greece, Hungary, 
Latvia, Poland, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom. 

Such targeted approach has a good potential to improve the uptake of the scheme. 

The number of documents and programmes created to facilitate the implementation 
of  EMAS  in  SMEs  increased  considerably  and  were  developed  in  the  Czech 
Republic,  Denmark,  France,  Germany,  Ireland,  Poland,  Portugal,  Slovakia  and  the 
United Kingdom.  

Educational  programmes  and  synergies  involving  all  actors  in  environmental 
management  systems  have  been  developed  in  the  majority  of  Member  States 
(Belgium,  Cyprus,  Czech  Republic,  Denmark,  Estonia,  Finland,  France,  Germany, 
Greece,  Hungary,  Italy,  Ireland,  Latvia,  Norway,  Poland,  Portugal,  Slovakia, 
Slovenia, Spain, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom). These programmes and 
synergies  often  include  practicing  the  implementation  of  EMAS  through  working 
groups and meetings of different stakeholders or EMAS registered  organisations or 
of  networks  of  local  authorities.  Training  of  environmental  verifiers,  auditors  and 
local authorities are often an important element of these programmes. 

3.2.4 

Public Procurement 

The  number  of  documents  related  with  public  procurement  increased  significantly 
and documents have been developed in the vast majority of Member States. 

Legislative  texts  on  public  procurement  have  been  developed  in  Austria,  Cyprus, 
Czech  Republic,  Greece,  Hungary,  Latvia,  Portugal,  Romania,  Slovakia,  Spain  and 
United  Kingdom)  and  a  wider  amount  of  guidelines  and  documents  have  been 
adopted in the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, 
Norway, Poland and the Netherlands. 

In general, the documents reported by Member States relate to the greening of public 
procurement  and  despite  the  significant  and  increase  in  the  number  of  documents 
they  do  not  in  all  cases  constitute  a  direct  or  clear  benefit  for  EMAS  registered 
organisations.  Only  the  Czech  Republic,  Greece,  Lithuania,  Romania,  Slovakia, 
Spain, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom  have specific  references to EMAS 
and how it can be used in public procurement. 

4. 

CONCLUSIONS 

External incentives provided by national authorities, especially if they are based on 
targeted  policies  and  programmes,  can  have  a  positive  influence  on  the  uptake  of 
EMAS. 

All  Member  States  apply  measures  which  provide  external  incentives  for  EMAS-
registered organisations. The fact that the business community still complains about 
the  shortage  of  substantial  measures  is  an  indicator  that  there  is  potential  for 
improvement.  

EN 

12 

   EN 

 
In general, incentives are designed for the benefit of private organisations. However, 
EMAS  is  also  available  for  public  organisations  and  even  though  these  are  not 
mainly guided by economic considerations, it is relevant that Member States provide 
also  incentives  in  this  sector  especially  to  local  authorities,  who  can  set  the  good 
example for others to follow. 

The  revision  of  the  second  EMAS  Regulation  in  2007-2009  represents  a  turning 
point  for  the  scheme.  One  of  the  objectives  of  the  revision  is  to  strengthen  the 
regulation in such a way that incentives are more prominent and Member States more 
inclined  to  provide  for  incentives.  By  strengthening  the  system  of  reporting  on 
environmental  performance  and 
the  mechanism  guaranteeing  organisations' 
compliance,  regulators  might  be  inclined  to  effectively  provide  for  more  incentives 
than is currently the case. 

Member  States  have  to  develop  policies  on  incentives  together  with  long-term 
incentive  programmes  to  encourage  the  best  practices.  The  Commission  will 
continue  to  provide  the  technical  assistance  and  information  support  necessary  for 
the implementation of EMAS in private and public organisations. 

EN 

13 

   EN