EU Legislation in the field of environment – key developments in 2007 and rd ECENA Plenary Meeting 18 September 2008

Air quality Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe (OJ L 152 of 11 June 2008) Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe (OJ L 152 of 11 June 2008) –The purpose of this Directive is to: define and establish objectives for ambient air quality define and establish objectives for ambient air quality assess the ambient air quality on the basis of common methods and criteria and, in particular, certain pollutants assess the ambient air quality on the basis of common methods and criteria and, in particular, certain pollutants provide information on ambient to help combat pollution and nuisance and to monitor long-term trends and improvements provide information on ambient to help combat pollution and nuisance and to monitor long-term trends and improvements ensure that such information on ambient air quality is made available to the public ensure that such information on ambient air quality is made available to the public maintain good air quality and improving it when needed maintain good air quality and improving it when needed promote increased cooperation between the Member States in reducing air pollution promote increased cooperation between the Member States in reducing air pollution

Air quality – cont. Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe –Member States to classify territory to assess ambient air quality –PM2.5 to be reduced by 20% by 2020 (based on 2010 exposure levels) –Air quality plans to be developed in areas where concentrations of pollutants exceed air quality values –Action plans to indicate the short term measures to reduce risk of exceeding pollutants alert thresholds –Trans-boundary consultation among Member States –Information to the public readily available –In force – 11 June 2010

Industrial Pollution Prevention Directive 2008/1/EC concerning integrated pollution prevention and control (codified IPPC legislation) Directive 2008/1/EC concerning integrated pollution prevention and control (codified IPPC legislation) Proposal for a Directive on industrial emissions (COM(2007)844 final) Proposal for a Directive on industrial emissions (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 LCPs Tightens minimum emission limit values for LCPs Introduces minimum standards for environmental inspections of industrial installations and allows for more effective permit reviews Introduces minimum standards for environmental inspections of industrial installations and allows for more effective permit reviews Scope to be extended – LPCs between 20 to 50 MW, production of wood-based panels, preservation of wood Scope to be extended – LPCs between 20 to 50 MW, production of wood-based panels, preservation of wood Administrative costs to be reduced by between €105 and €255 million a year Administrative costs to be reduced by between €105 and €255 million a year

Water Quality Directive 2007/60/EC on the assessment and management of flood risks (OJ L 288 of 6 November 2007) Directive 2007/60/EC on the assessment and management of flood risks (OJ L 288 of 6 November 2007) –Applies to all kinds of floods –To reduce and manage the risk to human health, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity –Three stages of flood risk management preliminary flood risk assessment of river basins and associated coastal zones – 2011 preliminary flood risk assessment of river basins and associated coastal zones – 2011 flood hazard maps and flood risk maps: indication of inhabitants potentially at risk, economic activity and environmental damage potential – 2013 flood hazard maps and flood risk maps: indication of inhabitants potentially at risk, economic activity and environmental damage potential – 2013 flood risk management plans: prevention, protection and preparedness flood risk management plans: prevention, protection and preparedness

Water Quality – cont. Directive 2007/60/EC on the assessment and management of flood risks Directive 2007/60/EC on the assessment and management of flood risks –Assessments, maps and plans available to the public –Coordinated actions in shared river basins, including with third countries –Consider long term developments: climate change, sustainable land use practices

Marine Environment Directive for Community action in the field of marine environmental policy (OJ L 164 of 25 June 2008) Directive for Community action in the field of marine environmental policy (OJ L 164 of 25 June 2008) –To ensure that EU marine waters are environmentally healthy by 2020 at the latest –European Marine Regions established on the basis of geographical and environmental criteria –Marine strategies to be developed in each marine region, and to include an action plan –EU Member States to draw up a programme of cost-effective measures –EU Member States to establish marine protected areas – coordinate activities with non-EU countries in the same marine region, including through regional sea conventions –In force – 15 July 2010

Waste Management Revision of the Waste Framework Directive (COM(2005)667 final) agreed on 17 June The agreed Directive: Revision of the Waste Framework Directive (COM(2005)667 final) agreed on 17 June The agreed Directive: –Sets new recycling targets to be achieved by the Member States by 2020 –Strengthens provisions on waste prevention –Sets a clear, five-step "hierarchy" of waste management options according to which prevention is the preferred option, followed by reuse, recycling, other forms of recovery and with safe disposal as the last recourse. –Clarifies a number of important definitions, such as recycling, recovery and waste itself. –The new directive will also streamline EU waste legislation by replacing the existing Waste Framework Directive, the Hazardous Waste Directive and the Waste Oils Directive.

Climate change Climate action and renewable energy package (23 January 2008, possible agreement early 2009) Climate action and renewable energy package (23 January 2008, possible agreement early 2009) –Commitments to fight climate change and promote renewable energy up to 2020 and beyond. –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 Community’s independent greenhouse gas reduction commitment in sectors not covered by EU ETS Proposal relating to the sharing of efforts to meet the Community’s independent greenhouse gas reduction commitment in sectors not covered by EU ETS Proposal for a Directive on Carbon Capture Storage Proposal for a Directive on Carbon Capture Storage Proposal for a Directive promoting renewable energy Proposal for a Directive promoting renewable energy

Climate change White Paper on adaptation to be adopted in Autumn 2008 – Possible principles for EU action: White Paper on adaptation to be adopted in Autumn 2008 – Possible principles for EU action: –Priority to measures good for mitigation and adaptation –Priority to measures which can be beneficial irrespective of uncertainties –Precautionary principle: consider worst case scenario even if uncertainties are high –Solidarity between EU Member States, regions, social groups –Adaptation policy should be dynamic and flexible, based on scientific evidence –Measures must be cost effective, proportionate and in line with EU objectives on sustainable development

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