As of: September 2011

Environment Action Programmes

Environment Action Programmes provide a general policy framework for the European Union’s environmental policy in which the most important medium and long-term goals of European environmental policy are defined and set out in the form of a basic strategy, if applicable, including concrete action measures. The Environment Action Programmes date back to a conference of Heads of State and Government held in October 1972 where it was argued that the protection of the environment belongs to the essential tasks of the Community and at which the Commission was called upon to develop an Environmental Action Programme. The Treaty of Maastricht which was adopted in 1992 created a contractual basis for the adoption of Environment Action Programmes. When the Treaty of Lisbon was adopted, this contractual basis was set forth in Article 192 para. 3 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union. Since then, Environment Action Programmes have been adopted by the European Parliament and the Council at the proposal of the Commission within the framework of the ordinary legislative procedure and have hence been issued as formal legal acts.

Six Environment Action Programmes which cover periods from three to ten years have been adopted to the present day:

1. Environment Action Programme 1973-1976
2. Environment Action Programme 1977-1981
3. Environment Action Programme 1982-1986
4. Environment Action Programme 1987-1992
5. Environment Action Programme 1993-2000
6. Environment Action Programme 2002-2012

The Sixth Environment Action Programme addresses environmental goals that have been classified as being of particular importance and requiring action by the Community. They include:

• Climate change,
• Nature and biodiversity,
• Environment, health and quality of life,
• Natural resources and waste.

These environmental priorities are also perceived as cross-sectional themes that need to be incorporated into all Community policies and are intended to contribute towards sustainable development in the EU. Special focus was placed on climate change which has been acknowledged as “posing the main challenge for the next ten years and beyond”. Contrary to other areas, it also defined quantifiable goals such as limiting the rise in global temperature by 2° C max. and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 8% before 2012. In addition, the Sixth Environment Action Programme defined seven thematic action strategies in the following areas: air pollution, marine environment, sustainable use of natural resources, prevention and recycling of waste, sustainable use of pesticides, soil protection and urban environment. The concrete approach is to be based on a comprehensive, multilateral strategy that will endeavour to create synergy effects between the individual strategies in the long term.

In August 2011, the Commission evaluated the Sixth Environment Action Programme; this subsequently contributed to the issuance of statutory provisions in nearly all areas of the environment. Major accomplishments in the field of the environment during the past ten years have been the extension of the Natura 2000 network to cover almost 18% of the EU land area, the introduction of a comprehensive chemicals policy at EU level and the implementation of climate protection measures. The final evaluation of the 6th Environment Action Programme shows that the large majority of actions set out in the Programme have been or are in the process of being completed. In its evaluation, the Commission advocates implementing a Seventh Environment Action Programme.