European Common policies Prepared by Dr. Endre Domonkos (PhD) 2013/2014. Academic Year, Spring Semester

I.Development of the Union’s environmental policy I. The Treaty of Rome: intesive economic growth + fast pace of industrialization and energy consumption. In 1972, at the Paris Summit: initiating the process of designing the necessary legislative framework + adoption of common action programmes in the field of environmental protection. The Third Action Programme: emphasis was given from treatment to prevention. The Single European Act: institutionalization of Community environmental policy and its objectives.

I.Development of the Union’s environmental policy II. The Treaty of Maastricht: expansion of the scope of environmental policy + incorporation into the EU Treaty the objective of environmental protection. The principle of sustainable development (the need to respect environment) To take into account of environmental protection in all sectoral policies (integrate environmental considerations into all other Union policies). According to Article 191 of the TFEU the main objectives of the EU’s environmental policy.

I.Development of the Union’s environmental policy III. Basic principles of the EU environmental policy: - the principle of prevention; - the principle of rectifying environmental hazards at source; - the polluter plays principle; - the integration principle - the principle of avoidance The tasks of the Union:

I.Development of the Union’s environmental policy IV. European Commission: it makes proposals for EU legislation on the environment and action programmes + monitors the implementation by the Member States. Decisions on the protection of the environment: the role of the Council and the European Parliament (ordinary legislative procedure). Exceptions: in these cases the Council has the exclusive right of decision and the EP is only consulted. But the TFEU allows the Member States to adopt and apply rules stricter than those of theUnion.

II.Instruments of EU environmental policy I. Environmental legislation: secondary legal sources (directives). Environmental legislation covers air pollution control, water pollution control, waste management, noise reduction, nuclear safety, protection of flora and fauna and provisions on chemicals. Three key areas: waste management, water pollution and air pollution. 1. Waste management: 2.Water pollution: 3. Air pollution:

II.Instruments of EU environmental policy II. EU legislation concerned with transport: Fighting against air pollution and global warming + growing depletion of ozone in the atmosphere. Efforts made by the EU in the implementation of international conventions and legislation. Enforcement and implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. Extensive legislation on environmental issues.

II.Instruments of EU environmental policy III. Problems: the transposition of EU legislation into national law and realisation of sectoral objectives. The Sixth Action Programme for Environment for the period 2002-2010: improvement of the application of environmental legislation + more effective monitoring of the Member States and various polluting sources. REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) Directive: NATURA 2000: European ecological network (important part of of the EU efforts and harmonisation).

III. Environmental action programmes EU action programmes: Defining the framework of the Union’s environmental policy. Setting out the challenges and priorities for a given period + constitute a framework for EU measures on the environment, from legislation to the implementation of common projects. The Fifth Action Programme (1992-2000) and the Sixth Action Programme (2002-2010):

IV. The Fifth Environmental Action Programme I. The priorities of the Fifth Environmental Action Programme: - improving the sustainable management of natural resources (soil, water, forests, etc.); - promoting an integrated approach to combating pollution; - stepping up by recycling activities; - reducing the consumption of energy from non-renewable sources; - promoting prudent, environment-conscious mobility management; - improving the quality of urban environment; - improving health, reducing industrial hazards and improving nuclear safety;

IV. The Fifth Environmental Action Programme II. Priority objectives of the programme: Importance of Union intervention to preserve and improve the environment in the following identified sectors: - industry, - energy, - transport, - agriculture and - tourism.

V. The Sixth Environmental Action Programme I. The Fifth Environmental Action Programme: Less progress in the integration of environmental concerns into the other EU policies. The priority areas of Sixth Environmental Action Programme (2002-2010): Five priority strategic areas: Emphasis was given on sustainable development.

VI. The European Environment Agency Primary objectives of environmental policy: ensuring that the public is properly informed on the state of the environment + effectively educated about environmental problems. Continuous flow of information and data. Council Regulation was adopted in 1990, which set up the European Environment Agency. Headquarter: in Copenhagen. Main objectives of the European Environment Agency:

VII. Financial instruments I. Financial resources to sustain the objectives and action programmes implemented within the framework of the EU environmental policy. Structural Funds: for projects to improve the state of the environment in a particular region. The Cohesion Fund: supporting the less prosperous Member States (EUR 26.5 billion between 2007 and 2013). European Investment Bank: loans for environmental development and investment projects.

VII. Financial instruments II. LIFE programme: Three thematic components: LIFE-Nature ; LIFE-Environment and; LIFE-third countries. In May 2007, LIFE+ was launched by the Commission. EUR 2.14 billion to the programme for seven years. Main targets: Three elements: LIFE + ‘Nature and Biodiversity’, LIFE+ ‘Environmental Policy and Governance’, LIFE+ ‘Information and Communication’

VIII. Integrated action against climate change I. Integrated Climate Change and Energy Policy: new pillar of EU environmental policy + key achievement of recent years. To tackle climate change and global warming . The target of the EU: to limit the global average temperature increase to 2 ºC compared with the pre-industrial levels. 2008 climate package: 20% share of renewable energy resources in the energy mix by 2020. Amendment of the previously agreed national greenhouse gas reduction commitments resulting from the Kyoto Protocol.

VIII. Integrated action against climate change II. Overhauling of the Union’s Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) The Fuel Quality Directive : to gradually reduce greenhouse gas emissions for fuels by 6% by 2020. Setting out by the objective of the European Council: Global target commitments taken by G8 summit: The Copenhagen Summit of December 2009: it set the 2°C target officially + USD 30 billion to support developing countries. The Cancun Summit: emission reduction commitments for developed and developing countries.

IX. Environmental policy under the TFEU Environmental policy: shared competence between the EU and the Member States. New element among the objectives of environmental protection: to fight against climate change. Article 194 of TFEU: creation a direct link between environmental policy and energy policy. Decisions in the field of environmental policy are still primarily taken jointly by the Council and the European Parliament in the ordinary legislative procedure. Unanimous decision-making in the following cases:

X. Literature Zoltán Horváth (2011): Handbook on the European Union, Hungarian National Assembly, Fourth Edition, Chapter 18, Hvgorac, pp. 471-477. Zoltán Horváth – Bálint Ódor (2010): The Union after Lisbon. The Treaty Reform of the EU. Chapter 8: The Union’s policies, hvgorac, pp. 256-257.