1. 1 History of the Environmental EU Legislation EU Environmental Legislation 2.VII.2008 Warsaw, Poland “Business Support Programme for Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia and Turkey” BSP 2007/142-722

2. EU Environmental Legislation, 2.VII.2008, Warsaw, Poland 2 Awareness of environmental issues 1960s First Community environment legislation: Environmental Legislation History  dangerous chemicals,  motor vehicles,  detergents.

3. EU Environmental Legislation, 2.VII.2008, Warsaw, Poland 3 First Action Programme 1973 - 1976 Environmental Legislation History The First EAP emphasised the need for a comprehensive assessment of the impacts of other policies, in an effort to avoid damaging activities.

4. EU Environmental Legislation, 2.VII.2008, Warsaw, Poland 4 Second Action Programme 1977 - 1981 Environmental Legislation History The Second environmental action programme (EAP) (1977 - 1981) was a follow up to the first in terms of approach and objective, with simply a greater range of problems to be dealt with. Nature Protection received special attention.

5. EU Environmental Legislation, 2.VII.2008, Warsaw, Poland 5 Prevention is better than cure Environmental impacts to be accounted at earliest possible stage Avoidance of significant damage to ecological balance Improvement of scientific knowledge Polluter pay principle The 1 st & 2 nd EAP Principles

6. EU Environmental Legislation, 2.VII.2008, Warsaw, Poland 6 Activities in one member state should not cause deterioration in another Interests of developing countries Promotion of protection through international organisations Environmental protection is everyone's responsibility and therefore education is necessary The 1 st & 2 nd EAP Principles - continued

7. EU Environmental Legislation, 2.VII.2008, Warsaw, Poland 7 Subsidiary principle - action at appropriate level Co-ordination of national programmes and harmonisation of national policies within the Community The 1 st & 2 nd EAP Principles - continued

8. EU Environmental Legislation, 2.VII.2008, Warsaw, Poland 8  Change in emphasis from pollution control to pollution prevention  Land use planning  Integration of environment into other EC policies  Emissions control policy Third Environmental Action Programme Third Environmental Action Programme Third Environmental Action Programme (1982 -1986)

9. EU Environmental Legislation, 2.VII.2008, Warsaw, Poland 9  Effective implementation of existing Community legislation  Regulation of all environmental impacts of 'substances' and 'sources' of pollution  Increased public access to and dissemination of information  Job creation Fourth Environmental Action Programme 1987 - 1992 „Towards environmental policy integration”

10. EU Environmental Legislation, 2.VII.2008, Warsaw, Poland 10 Fifth Environmental Action Programme 1993 -2000 The elements of the Fifth Environmental Action Programme  Sustainable development  Reference to the sectoral approach  The emphasis on new instruments.  The new consensus-oriented approach taking into account the crucial role of non-governmental protagonists and local/regional authorities to represent the general interest of the environment.  The setting of medium and long-term objectives

11. EU Environmental Legislation, 2.VII.2008, Warsaw, Poland 11 Fifth Environmental Action Programme 1993 - 2000 The features of sustainability are:  To maintain the overall quality of life  To maintain continuing access to natural resources  To avoid lasting environmental damage  To consider as sustainable a development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. "Towards Sustainability"

12. EU Environmental Legislation, 2.VII.2008, Warsaw, Poland 12 Legislation in the late 90s: Fifth Environmental Action Programme 1993 - 2000 Ambient Air Quality Directive Water Framework Directive IPPC-Directive The reform of European Chemicals Policies Sett up maximum emission ceilings for key pollutants The Completion, revision or modernisation of existing legislative programmes The introduction of many new environmental policy instruments

13. EU Environmental Legislation, 2.VII.2008, Warsaw, Poland 13 6th Environment Action Programme (2002-2012)

14. EU Environmental Legislation, 2.VII.2008, Warsaw, Poland 14 The Sixth Environment Action Programme identifies four priority areas : climate change nature and biodiversity environment and health natural resources and wastes 6th Environmental Action Programme

15. EU Environmental Legislation, 2.VII.2008, Warsaw, Poland 15 Thematic Strategies cover the following fields :  Air  Waste prevention and recycling  Marine Environment  Soil  Pesticides  Natural resources  Urban Environment The Thematic Strategies will be reviewed in 2010. 6th Environmental Action Programme

16. EU Environmental Legislation, 2.VII.2008, Warsaw, Poland 16 Bibliography  EC websides:  http://ec.europa.eu/environment/actionpr.htm  http://www.eeb.org/  Dr. Christian Hey, EU Environmental Policies: A short history of the policy strategies: http://www.eeb.org/publication/chapter-3.pdf