EU Legislation in the field of EU Legislation in the field of environment – key environment – key

developments in 2007 and 2008developments in 2007 and 2008

3rd ECENA Plenary Meeting3rd ECENA Plenary Meeting

18 September 200818 September 2008

Air qualityAir quality

• Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe and cleaner air for Europe (OJ L 152 of 11 June 2008)(OJ L 152 of 11 June 2008)

– The purpose of this Directive is to:The purpose of this Directive is to: • define and establish objectives for ambient air qualitydefine and establish objectives for ambient air quality• assess the ambient air quality on the basis of common assess the ambient air quality on the basis of common

methods and criteria and, in particular, certain pollutantsmethods and criteria and, in particular, certain pollutants• provide information on ambient to help combat pollution provide information on ambient to help combat pollution

and nuisance and to monitor long-term trends and and nuisance and to monitor long-term trends and improvementsimprovements

• ensure that such information on ambient air quality is ensure that such information on ambient air quality is made available to the publicmade available to the public

• maintain good air quality and improving it when neededmaintain good air quality and improving it when needed• promote increased cooperation between the Member promote increased cooperation between the Member

States in reducing air pollution States in reducing air pollution

Air quality – cont.Air quality – cont.

• Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europecleaner air for Europe– Member States to classify territory to assess ambient air Member States to classify territory to assess ambient air

qualityquality– PM2.5 to be reduced by 20% by 2020 (based on 2010 PM2.5 to be reduced by 20% by 2020 (based on 2010

exposure levels)exposure levels)– Air quality plans to be developed in areas where Air quality plans to be developed in areas where

concentrations of pollutants exceed air quality valuesconcentrations of pollutants exceed air quality values– Action plans to indicate the short term measures to Action plans to indicate the short term measures to

reduce risk of exceeding pollutants alert thresholds reduce risk of exceeding pollutants alert thresholds – Trans-boundary consultation among Member StatesTrans-boundary consultation among Member States– Information to the public readily availableInformation to the public readily available– In force – In force – 11 June 201011 June 2010

Industrial Pollution PreventionIndustrial Pollution Prevention

• Directive 2008/1/EC concerning integrated pollution Directive 2008/1/EC concerning integrated pollution prevention and control (codified IPPC legislation)prevention and control (codified IPPC legislation)

• Proposal for a Directive on industrial emissions Proposal for a Directive on industrial emissions (COM(2007)844 final)(COM(2007)844 final)

• Simplifies legislation (recasts seven Directives into one) Simplifies legislation (recasts seven Directives into one) • BAT concept to be improved and clarified BAT concept to be improved and clarified • Tightens minimum emission limit values for LCPsTightens minimum emission limit values for LCPs• Introduces minimum standards for environmental inspections of Introduces minimum standards for environmental inspections of

industrial installations and allows for more effective permit industrial installations and allows for more effective permit reviewsreviews

• Scope to be extended – LPCs between 20 to 50 MW, production Scope to be extended – LPCs between 20 to 50 MW, production of wood-based panels, preservation of woodof wood-based panels, preservation of wood

• Administrative costs to be reduced by between €105 and €255 Administrative costs to be reduced by between €105 and €255 million a yearmillion a year

Water QualityWater Quality

• Directive 2007/60/EC on the assessment and Directive 2007/60/EC on the assessment and management of flood risks management of flood risks (OJ L 288 of 6 November (OJ L 288 of 6 November

2007)2007) – Applies to all kinds of floodsApplies to all kinds of floods– To reduce and manage the risk to human health, the To reduce and manage the risk to human health, the

environment, cultural heritage and economic activityenvironment, cultural heritage and economic activity– Three stages of flood risk managementThree stages of flood risk management

• preliminary flood risk assessment of river basins and preliminary flood risk assessment of river basins and associated coastal zones – 2011associated coastal zones – 2011

• flood hazard maps and flood risk maps: indication of flood hazard maps and flood risk maps: indication of inhabitants potentially at risk, economic activity and inhabitants potentially at risk, economic activity and environmental damage potential – 2013environmental damage potential – 2013

• flood risk management plans: prevention, protection and flood risk management plans: prevention, protection and preparedness - 2015preparedness - 2015

Water Quality – cont.Water Quality – cont.

• Directive 2007/60/EC on the assessment Directive 2007/60/EC on the assessment and management of flood risksand management of flood risks– Assessments, maps and plans available to Assessments, maps and plans available to

the publicthe public– Coordinated actions in shared river basins, Coordinated actions in shared river basins,

including with third countriesincluding with third countries– Consider long term developments: climate Consider long term developments: climate

change, sustainable land use practiceschange, sustainable land use practices

Marine EnvironmentMarine Environment

• Directive for Community action in the field of Directive for Community action in the field of marine environmental policy marine environmental policy (OJ L 164 of 25 June (OJ L 164 of 25 June 2008)2008)– To ensure that EU marine waters are environmentally To ensure that EU marine waters are environmentally

healthy by 2020 at the latesthealthy by 2020 at the latest– European Marine Regions established on the basis of European Marine Regions established on the basis of

geographical and environmental criteriageographical and environmental criteria– Marine strategies to be developed in each marine region, Marine strategies to be developed in each marine region,

and to include an action planand to include an action plan– EU Member States to draw up a programme of cost-EU Member States to draw up a programme of cost-

effective measureseffective measures– EU Member States to establish marine protected areas – EU Member States to establish marine protected areas –

coordinate activities with non-EU countries in the same coordinate activities with non-EU countries in the same marine region, including through regional sea conventionsmarine region, including through regional sea conventions

– In force – In force – 15 July 201015 July 2010

Waste ManagementWaste Management

• Revision of the Waste Framework Directive Revision of the Waste Framework Directive (COM(2005)667 final) agreed on 17 June (COM(2005)667 final) agreed on 17 June 2008.2008. The agreed Directive: The agreed Directive:– Sets new recycling targets to be achieved by the Member Sets new recycling targets to be achieved by the Member

States by 2020States by 2020– Strengthens provisions on waste preventionStrengthens provisions on waste prevention– Sets a clear, five-step "hierarchy" of waste management Sets a clear, five-step "hierarchy" of waste management

options according to which prevention is the preferred options according to which prevention is the preferred option, followed by reuse, recycling, other forms of recovery option, followed by reuse, recycling, other forms of recovery and with safe disposal as the last recourse.and with safe disposal as the last recourse.

– Clarifies a number of important definitions, such as Clarifies a number of important definitions, such as recycling, recovery and waste itself.recycling, recovery and waste itself.

– The new directive will also streamline EU waste legislation The new directive will also streamline EU waste legislation by replacing the existing Waste Framework Directive, the by replacing the existing Waste Framework Directive, the Hazardous Waste Directive and the Waste Oils Directive.Hazardous Waste Directive and the Waste Oils Directive.

Climate changeClimate change

• Climate action and renewable energy package Climate action and renewable energy package (23 January 2008, possible agreement early 2009)(23 January 2008, possible agreement early 2009)– Commitments to fight climate change and promote Commitments to fight climate change and promote

renewable energy up to 2020 and beyond.renewable energy up to 2020 and beyond.– Key policy proposals:Key policy proposals:

• Proposal amending the EU Emissions Trading Directive Proposal amending the EU Emissions Trading Directive • Proposal relating to the sharing of efforts to meet the Proposal relating to the sharing of efforts to meet the

Community’s independent greenhouse gas reduction Community’s independent greenhouse gas reduction commitment in sectors not covered by EU ETScommitment in sectors not covered by EU ETS

• Proposal for a Directive on Carbon Capture StorageProposal for a Directive on Carbon Capture Storage• Proposal for a Directive promoting renewable energyProposal for a Directive promoting renewable energy

Climate changeClimate change

• White Paper on adaptation to be adopted in White Paper on adaptation to be adopted in Autumn 2008 – Possible principles for EU action:Autumn 2008 – Possible principles for EU action:– Priority to measures good for mitigation and Priority to measures good for mitigation and

adaptationadaptation– Priority to measures which can be beneficial Priority to measures which can be beneficial

irrespective of uncertaintiesirrespective of uncertainties– Precautionary principle: consider worst case scenario Precautionary principle: consider worst case scenario

even if uncertainties are higheven if uncertainties are high– Solidarity between EU Member States, regions, social Solidarity between EU Member States, regions, social

groupsgroups– Adaptation policy should be dynamic and flexible, Adaptation policy should be dynamic and flexible,

based on scientific evidencebased on scientific evidence– Measures must be cost effective, proportionate and in Measures must be cost effective, proportionate and in

line with EU objectives on sustainable developmentline with EU objectives on sustainable development

Thank you for the Thank you for the attentionattention!!

For more information:For more information:

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/http://ec.europa.eu/environment/index_en.htmindex_en.htm