Title EU Environmental Policy_updated 2025.02.24.pdf ✅

August 2024 EUROPEAN UNION ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY SUMMARY BRIEFING
European Union Environmental Policy - August 2024 Key terms The precautionary principle A risk management tool that may be invoked when there is scientific uncertainty about a suspected risk to human health or to the environment emanating from a certain action or policy. For instance, should doubts arise about the potentially harmful effects of a product, and should – following an objective scientific evaluation – uncertainty persist, instructions may be given to stop the distribution of the product or to remove it from the market. The ‘polluter pays’ principle Is implemented by the Environmental Liability Directive, which aims to prevent or otherwise remedy environmental damage to protected species or to natural habitats, water and soil. Operators involved in activities like transporting dangerous substances or discharging into waters must take preventive actions for potential environmental threats and remediate any resultant damage at their own expense. The directive's scope has expanded to encompass the management of extractive waste, geological storage sites, and the safety of offshore oil and gas operations. Policy evolution & milestones 2 The blue economy According to the European Commission, the blue economy refers to "all economic activities related to oceans, seas and coasts" and should adhere to the European Green Deal, as it is indispensable to meet the EU’s environmental and climate objectives. The Commission's new approach integrates the blue economy into the Green Deal and recovery strategy, focusing on sector coherence, synergistic maritime activities, and environmental protection, while emphasising the importance of investing in research, skills, and innovation. Environmental policy is closely tied to climate change and energy policies, often sharing common themes. European environmental policy is grounded in principles of: Precaution, Prevention, Pollution rectification at the source, and the 'Polluter pays' doctrine. © EU Training © EU Training | All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or shared by any means.
Europe grapples with ongoing environmental challenges such as: with significant resource consumption and degradation still prevalent (despite gains from targeted conservation efforts). The EU has the authority to address all environmental matters, including air and water pollution, waste management, and climate change, but actions are constrained by subsidiarity and the need for unanimity in the Council on issues related to taxation, land planning, water resource management, and energy. European Union Environmental Policy - August 2024 Policy evolution & milestones 3 Biodiversity loss Climate impact Risks to health In 1972, the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm marked the first global conference to prioritise environmental issues, sparking an era of environmental multilateralism that continues today. That same year, the European Council in Paris established the need for a Community environment policy alongside economic growth, launching the first European environmental policy. In 1973, the European Commission initiated the multiannual Environment Action Programmes (EAPs), setting long-term environmental objectives and legislative agendas for the EU, with the 8th EAP launched in May 2022, guiding policy until 2030. Outline of the EU's environmental policy development: The Single European Act of 1987 introduced the 'Environment Title', providing a legal foundation for EU environmental policy aimed at preserving environmental quality, protecting health, and rationalising natural resource use. © EU Training © EU Training | All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or shared by any means.
In 2011, the EU launched its biodiversity strategy aligning with the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. December 2019 saw the introduction of the European Green Deal aiming for a climate- neutral Europe, followed in May 2020 by the biodiversity strategy for 2030 and the farm to fork strategy to create sustainable food systems. In 2020 in the European Union, of the urban population was exposed to levels of fine particulate matter above the health-based guideline level set by the World Health Organization. 96% Over of European soils are unhealthy, degrading due to unsustainable land management, contamination, climate change, and other factors 60% leading to a loss of essential ecosystem services and costing the EU at least euros annually. 50 billion Policy evolution & milestones Outline of the EU's environmental policy development: 4 European Union Environmental Policy - August 2024 Subsequent treaties reinforced the EU's environmental commitments: The Treaty of Maastricht in 1993 formalised environmental policy as an EU domain, introduced co-decision procedures, and established qualified majority voting, The Treaty of Amsterdam in 1999 mandated the integration of environmental protection across all EU policies to promote sustainable development, The Treaty of Lisbon in 2009 highlighted combating climate change and sustainable international relations, also giving the EU legal personality to sign international agreements. © EU Training © EU Training | All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or shared by any means.