Communication on implementing EU environment changed for 2012

The 2008 Communication on implementing EU environment law is to be updated this year to concentrate on improving the implementation of environmental legislation at Member State level and collectively achieving a better environment on the ground.

Although the two Communications are complementary, they will be very distinct in their outlook. The new Communication contains ideas that will help Member States improve their performance and is an expression of the Environment Commissioner's wish to be "strictly helpful, helpfully strict".

Questions have been raised over whether these changes will be cost-effective in times of austerity, however, the EU has responded on numerous occasions to these allegations with facts on the health benefits of environmental legislation. There are also stand-alone economic benefits, such as placing more environmental information online for a better connected and better informed economy.

Indeed, 'knowledge' has become a key term of the Communication, with a lot of pressure on authorities to communicate their actions well. Having a transparent, efficient and useful online resource of useful information will make environmental benefits clearer.

Posted by Lauren Steadman