1. IMPEL European Union Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law

2. WHY IMPEL? To contribute towards an effective and even implementation of environmental law To identify and promote good practice in compliance and enforcement To avoid distortions of competition within the European Union

3. HISTORY OF IMPEL 1991NETHERLANDS EU PRESIDENCY - INFORMAL COUNCIL 1992 UK EU PRESIDENCY - “CHESTER” - START SUBSEQUENT MS PRESIDENCIES - “IMPEL” NETWORK 1996EC COMMUNICATION ON IMPLEMENTING COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL LAW: ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF AND ROLE FOR IMPEL 1997 COUNCIL OF MINISTERS/EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RECOGNITION OF IMPEL IN THE COUNCIL RESOLUTION 2001 RECOMMENDATION ON MINIMUM CRITERIA AND 6th ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PROGRAMME

4. How IMPEL Functions Projects managed by Member States Projects agreed at twice yearly IMPEL Meetings IMPEL Meetings decide overall strategy

5. Multi-Annual Work Programme Framework for future activities Based on Recommendation on Minimum Criteria and 6th EAP

6. AC-IMPEL Members are the 12 candidate countries for membership of the European Union

7. IMPEL - AN ASSESSMENT An expensive network - is it worthwhile?

8. IMPEL web site http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/impel