Review of European nuclear power plants to be continued

At their meeting in Brussels on 25 April 2012, the heads of the European nuclear safety regulators and the European Commission endorsed the report on the review of nuclear power plants in the EU by an international team of experts and agreed on additional measures. more

New EU Regulation to Improve Water Quality

On 10 February 2012, the Council of the European Union adopted the regulation amending EC Regulation 648/2004 on the use of phosphates and other phosphorus compounds in consumer laundry detergents and consumer automatic dishwasher detergents which was adopted by the European Parliament in a first reading on 14 December 2011. It is expected to enter into force in March 2012. more

Revision of the Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

After prolonged negotiations, the Permanent Representatives Committee reached agreement on the revision of the WEEE Directive. The recast is primarily intended to increase collection and recycling targets for waste electrical and electronic equipment and curb illegal exports. more

Renewable energies and energy efficiency pay off for Europe as well

On 15 December 2011 the EU Commission presented the Energy Roadmap 2050. It describes different technological and economic approaches to achieving Europe's climate targets. more

Amendment to Chemicals Act enters into force

Germany has prepared the ground for the national enforcement of the EU CLP regulation with the amendment of the Chemicals Act which has entered into force on 8 November 2011. more

BMU boosts energy-related modernisation of buildings in Latvia

The energy-related modernisation of system-built buildings offers great potential for climate protection in Germany and across Europe. A successful project in this area has just been concluded in Latvia. more

Expanding the EU's top runner approach

The Federal Environment and the Federal Economics Ministries published a joint concept paper which presents concrete proposals on how the top-runner approach can be further developed at EU level. The key elements had been set out by the Federal Environment Agency and the Federal Environment Ministry on the basis of the study. more

• Joint concept paper (accessible PDF, 54 KB)

EU Strategy for Sustainable Development

The goal of the EU strategy for sustainable development, adopted in the summer of 2001, is to improve the quality of life on earth of both present and future generations. In particular, it is intended to ensure that economic growth, environmental protection and social integration go hand in hand. more