The Future of European Environment Policy

Publication date: 25 July 2005

Today, the College of Commissioners had a general debate about the future of environmental policy. The debate follows long and intensive discussions within the Commission's services over the adoption of the first two of seven thematic strategies promised in the EU's 6th environment action programme of 2002. The strategies are: air pollution, marine environment, sustainable use of resources,waste prevention and recycling, pesticides, soil quality and urban environment. The Commission predicts the initiative will cost 12 billion euros a year from 2020, though Stavros Dimas says the benefits, including illness prevention, would be four times that amount. A paper written by DG Environment argues that the costs of non-action would have serious cost implications in the future because of deteriorating health of European citizens in the future.

Most of the thematic strategies consolidate existing legislation and bring more legislative certainty. However since the relaunch of the Lisbon reform agenda with its focus on jobs and growth and the Barroso Commission's drive for less red tape, environment policies have been under pressure. The review of the sustainable development strategy has been stalled and the Commission's plans to include the aviation sector into its climate strategies (and into its emissions trading scheme) have already been postponed until autumn 2005. Several Commissioners criticised the costs of seven future thematic strategies and expressed fears that new legislative action in areas such as air and marine pollution might undermine Europe's economic competitiveness. Other Commissioners supported Mr Dimas and his DG's line of argument that the costs of non-action would be higher in the long run.

The conclusion of the debate is that the EU will press ahead with several environmental initiatives this year despite industry concern about high costs. The Commissioners supported the air pollution and marine strategies that will be presented after the summer.