EU environmental policy

Themes Climate change Biodiversity Environmental health Sustainable development

Climate change Decision of December 2008: approval of a comprehensive package of emission-cutting measures. = a plan to reduce greenhouse gases (at least 20% by 2020, compared with 1990 levels), raise renewable energy's share of the market (20%) and cut overall energy consumption (by 20%)

The emissions trading system = A system rewarding companies that reduce their CO2 emissions and penalises those that exceed limits. Introduced in 2005, concerns about 12,000 factories and plants responsible for about half the EU’s emissions of CO2, the main gas blamed for global warming. = Limits on the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by energy-intensive industries (power generation and steel and cement makers… and progressively other industries such as airlines and petrochemical companies ). Companies emitting more CO2 than their quota have to buy spare permits from more efficient companies.

Biodiversity Objective: stopping the decline of endangered species and habitats in the EU by 2010 Policies and legislation: - Natura 2000 = a set of areas where plant and animal species and their habitats must be protected (includes more than 26,000 sites across the EU)

Environmental health EU rules establishing health-based standards for pollutants => EU countries are required to monitor many different pollutants and to take action if levels exceed safe limits. Since 2008: relugation fixing limits on emissions of fine particles released by cars and trucks (in force in 2011). Member states must reduce exposure to fine particles in urban areas by an average 20% by 2020 (as compared to 2010 levels).

REACH Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical substances Regulation in force since 2007 REACH’s primary aim is “to ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment” Burden of proof on industry, which has to collect or generate the data necessary to ensure the safe use of chemicals. This data will be publicly available through the central database held at the European Chemical Agency REACH also provides rules for phasing out and substitution of the most dangerous chemicals

Sustainable development 2001: first EU sustainable development strategy Closely tied to climate change and energy policy, the plan (uptdated in 2006) relies on : education, research and public funding to achieve sustainable production and consumption patterns. 2009: the commission proposed a package of measures to promote eco-friendly products, including greater use of energy efficiency labels (ex : labels on washing machines). 2011: European Commission's Roadmap for a resource-efficient Europe (Communication adopted on 20 September 2011)

Consumer policy

The role of consumers in the internal market’s perspective The internal market requires consumer confidence in cross-border transactions => Consumers must have the right information on products and services, and know they have rights in case transactions go wrong => EU-wide rules are created (harmonization) to guarantee consumers a same level of protection

Tension The market requires uniformity of the standards Consumers’ protection is better off with minimum standards of protection (national legislation can be more protective in some member states)

Protection of consumers’ safety Specific safety requirements for toys, personal protective equipment, electrical appliances, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food, lighters, machinery and recreational craft (= common standards). rules on the recall of defective products and notifications of dangerous or unsafe products (more than each year - RAPEX).

Protection of other consumers’ interests European rules concern: fair business practices misleading and comparative advertising price indicators and labelling unfair contract terms distance and doorstep selling timeshares and package holidays travellers’ rights nutritional and health claims novel foods food ingredients and packaging…

Consumers’interests justify liberalization of public services Transport, electricity and gas, telecommunications and post Notion of a « universal access » to high-quality services at affordable prices Can the objective be fullfilled through liberalization ?

Most recent objectives for consumer protection Example: For financial services and electronic commerce: the Commission has proposed guidelines for good on-line business practices and rules for all aspects of consumer credit and non-cash payments.

Enforcing the rules Right to redress if EU rules are not implemented correctly  EU regulation determining the competent court  Commission Proposal for out-of-court settlements Another way : consumers can seek redress through the European Consumer Centres Network (ECC-Net).