Minimum requirements for water reuse Regulation (EU) 2020/741 on minimum requirements for water reuse It sets out harmonised parameters to guarantee the safety of water reuse in agricultural irrigation, with the aim of encouraging this practice and helping to address droughts and water stress. It also aims to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, in particular Goal 6 on the availability and sustainable management […]
Geneva Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution Decision 81/462/EEC concluding the Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution Under the Geneva Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, the parties (i.e. the countries which ratified it) commit themselves to working together to limit, to gradually prevent and to reduce their discharges of air pollutants in order to combat the resulting transboundary […]
Sustainability-related disclosures in the financial services sector Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 on sustainability-related disclosures in the financial services sector It lays down harmonised transparency rules for financial market participants* and financial advisers* on how they integrate environmental, social and good governance factors into their investment decisions and financial advice and on their overall and product-related sustainability ambition. It is designed to limit possible ‘greenwashing’ where […]
Port facilities for waste from ships, including cargo residues Directive (EU) 2019/883 – port reception facilities for the delivery of waste from ships It aims to protect the marine environment from the negative effects of waste from ships using European Union (EU) ports, by improving port reception facilities for waste from ships. Fees Under the new rules, ships will pay an indirect fee to cover […]
Timber Products A 2010 Regulation lays down obligations on placing place timber and timber products on the market. It applies to imported timber and timber harvested within the EU. It also applies to a wide range of timber products. Timber and timber products are to be accompanied by a FLEGT licence (established under 2005 EU Regulation) or a CITES permit (established under 1997 Regulation) meet […]
The Just Transition Fund Regulation (EU) 2021/1056 establishing the Just Transition Fund It sets up the Just Transition Fund (JTF), which aims to support the people, economies and environment of territories that face serious socio-economic challenges stemming from the shift towards a climate-neutral European Union (EU). The JTF aims to contribute to the single specific objective of enabling regions and people to address the social, […]
Climate action — binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions (2021–2030) Regulation (EU) 2018/842 on binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by Member States from 2021 to 2030 contributing to climate action to meet commitments under the Paris Agreement The regulation, known as the effort sharing regulation (ESR), sets out: the European Union (EU) Member States’ obligations on their minimum contributions in specific sectors to meet […]
EU renewable energy financing mechanism Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1294 on the EU’s renewable energy financing mechanism This implementing regulation sets out the rules on the functioning of the new EU renewable energy financing mechanism in line with Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 on governance of the energy union. The mechanism supports new renewable energy projects across the EU and contributes to the renewable energy deployment in accordance […]
Bern Convention Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats Decision 88/72/EEC — conclusion of the Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats The convention, adopted at Bern on 19 September 1979, aims to promote cooperation between the signatory countries in order to conserve wild flora and fauna and their natural habitats and to protect endangered migratory species. The decision […]
EU emissions trading system — auctioning regulation Regulation (EU) No 1031/2010 on the timing, administration and other aspects of auctioning of greenhouse gas emission allowances It sets out the rules to ensure that the procedure for allocating emission allowances within the European Union emissions trading system (EU ETS) is open, transparent, harmonised and non-discriminatory. Auctioning Auctioning has been the default method of allocating emission allowances […]
Drinking water — essential quality standards Directive (EU) 2020/2184 on the quality of water intended for human consumption (recast) It seeks to introduce revised rules to protect human health from the contamination of water intended for human consumption by ensuring that it is ‘wholesome and clean’, It also seeks to introduce hygienic requirements for materials in contact with drinking water, such as pipes, as well […]
Sewage Sludge in Agriculture There is an EU directive seeking to regulate the use of sewage sludge in agriculture in order to prevent its harmful effects. There are maximum values of concentration of heavy metals. Spreading of sewage sludge is banned when the concentration exceeds values. Sewage sludge may be used provided it is regulated. EU directive lays down limit values for concentrations of heavy […]
2030 climate and energy framework – greenhouse gas emissions, land use change and forestry Regulation (EU) 2018/841 on the inclusion of greenhouse gas emissions and removals from land use, land use change and forestry in the 2030 climate and energy framework The regulation: sets out what European Union (EU) Member States must do to ensure the land use, land use change and forestry sector helps […]
European Climate Law Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulations (EC) No 401/2009 and (EU) 2018/1999 (‘European Climate Law’) The regulation: establishes a framework for achieving climate neutrality within the European Union (EU) by 2050 (that is, a balance of EU-wide greenhouse-gas* emissions and their removal regulated in EU law); includes, in addition to the binding objective of climate […]
Clean and energy-efficient road transport vehicles Directive 2009/33/EC on promoting clean and energy-efficient road transport vehicles It aims at promoting and stimulating the development of a market for clean and energy-efficient vehicles. It requires public authorities and certain other public transport operators to take into account the impact of these vehicles during their operational lifetime in terms of: energy consumption; CO2 emissions; and other pollutant […]
EU biodiversity strategy for 2030 Communication — EU biodiversity strategy for 2030 on bringing nature back into our lives It aims to put Europe’s biodiversity* on the path to recovery by 2030 for the benefit of nature, people and the climate. To achieve this, the strategy sets out a comprehensive framework of commitments and actions to tackle the main causes of biodiversity loss: land- and […]
Assessing environmentally sustainable investments Regulation (EU) 2020/852 on establishing a framework to facilitate sustainable investment It aims to allow investors to know whether an economic activity is environmentally sustainable by setting common EU-wide criteria. It amends Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 on sustainability-related disclosures in the financial sector. Action plan on sustainable growth This ‘taxonomy’ regulation is one of a number of actions designed to help achieve […]
The new EU accreditation and verification regulation Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2067 – verification of data and the accreditation of verifiers of operators’ emission reports It aims to ensure that the reporting of greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union (EU) is robust, transparent, consistent and accurate by setting out rules to check the emission reports submitted under the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS) and […]
Alien and locally absent species Regulation (EC) No 708/2007 — use of alien and locally absent species in aquaculture It aims to create rules on aquaculture* practices to ensure adequate protection of the aquatic environment from the risks associated with the use of non-native species and locally absent species* in aquaculture. It is based on the voluntary alien species* rules of the International Council for […]
Convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals — Bonn Convention Convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals Decision 82/461/EEC — conclusion of the convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals The objective of the Bonn Convention is the conservation of migratory species* of wild animals worldwide. Wild animals require special attention because of their importance from […]
Ensuring trade in wild fauna and flora does not threaten their survival Regulation (EC) No 338/97 — regulating trade so as to protect species of wild fauna and flora The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has to be implemented uniformly in all EU countries, in view of the EU’s single market and the absence of systematic border […]
Protecting Europe’s biodiversity (Natura 2000) Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora It seeks to contribute to ensuring biodiversity in the European Union by the conservation of: natural habitats, and wild fauna and flora species. It sets up the ‘Natura 2000’ network, the largest ecological network in the world. Natura 2000 comprises special areas of conservation designated […]
Protecting biodiversity from invasive alien species Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species It sets out rules to prevent and manage the introduction and spread of invasive alien species (IAS)* in the EU. This law seeks to minimise and mitigate the adverse effects of IAS on EU biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as on […]
Management of waste from extractive industries The European Union has introduced measures to prevent or minimise any adverse effects on the environment and health arising from the management of waste from extractive industries. Directive 2006/21/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2006 on the management of waste from extractive industries and amending Directive 2004/35/EC – Statement by the European Parliament, […]
EU waste management law Directive 2008/98/EC on waste It establishes a legal framework for treating waste in the EU. This is designed to protect the environment and human health by emphasising the importance of proper waste management, recovery and recycling techniques to reduce pressure on resources and improve their use. Key Points The legislation establishes a waste hierarchy: prevention, re-use, recycling, recovery for other purposes […]
Making the most of waste electrical and electronic equipment Directive 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) It aims to protect the environment and human health by encouraging sustainable production and consumption. It does so by: preventing the creation of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)*; promoting reuse, recycling and other ways of recovering waste from electrical and electronic equipment (EEE)*; supporting the efficient […]
Reducing the consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags in the EU Existing European Union legislation on packaging waste does not contain specific measures for lightweight plastic carrier bags. These can have a harmful impact on the environment and their consumption needs to be reduced. Directive (EU) 2015/720 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2015 amending Directive 94/62/EC as regards reducing […]
Packaging and packaging waste Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste Directive (EU) 2018/852 amending Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste Directive 94/62/EC sets out the EU’s rules on managing packaging and packaging waste. Directive (EU) 2018/852 amends Directive 94/62/EC and contains updated measures designed to: prevent the production of packaging waste, and promote the reuse, recycling and other forms of recovering of packaging […]
Assessment of the effects of projects on the environment (EIA) Directive 2011/92/EU on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment Known as the EIA Directive, the directive aims to ensure: a high level of environmental protection; environmental considerations are integrated into the preparation and authorisation of projects. This objective is achieved by ensuring that environmental assessment of certain […]
Assessment and management of environmental noise Directive 2002/49/EC on the assessment and management of environmental noise The Environmental Noise Directive (END) aims to: provide a common basis for combating the harmful effects of exposure to environmental noise* across the EU; gradually introduce measures establishing common noise indicators* to measure the long-term exposure of humans to environmental noise throughout the day and sleep disturbances obliging EU […]
OSPAR Convention Decision 98/249/EC — concluding a convention protecting the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic Convention for the protection of the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic The decision concluded the OSPAR Convention, on behalf of the European Union (EU) — at the time known as the European Community. The OSPAR Convention aims to prevent and eliminate marine pollution and thus to protect the […]
Strategy for the marine environment Directive 2008/56/EC – EU action in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive) It establishes a common approach and objectives for the prevention, protection and conservation of the marine environment against damaging human activities. It requires European Union (EU) countries to develop strategies to achieve ‘good environmental status’* by 2020. The strategies, which span over 6-year cycles, […]
Marine pollution from ships and gas and oil installations In July 2014, the EU adopted a law which guarantees funding for the work of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) to fight pollution at sea for the 2014-20 period. Regulation (EU) No 911/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 on multiannual funding for the action of the European Maritime […]
Ecolabel Regulation (EC) No 66/2010 on the EU Ecolabel It concerns the European Union (EU) Ecolabel which is a voluntary environmental labelling scheme. By means of transparent ecological criteria, it enables consumers to make conscious choices without compromising on the quality of the products. Key Points The EU Ecolabel may be awarded to products and services which have a lower environmental impact than other products […]
The EU’s infrastructure for spatial information (Inspire) Directive 2007/2/EC establishing an infrastructure for spatial information in the European Community (Inspire) It lays down general rules setting up an infrastructure for spatial information* in Europe for the purposes of European Union (EU) environmental policies and for policies or activities which may have an impact on the environment. The European infrastructure builds on that of spatial information […]
Governance of the Energy Union Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 on the Governance of the Energy Union It aims to ensure that the EU’s Energy Union Strategy is implemented in a coordinated and coherent manner across its 5 dimensions. More broadly, it also aims to ensure that the Energy Union achieves its objectives, in particular the targets of the 2030 policy framework for climate and energy and […]
Public access to environmental information Directive 2003/4/EC on public access to environmental information It fully adapts European Union (EU) countries’ national laws to the 1998 Aarhus Convention on access to information, public participation and access to justice in environmental matters. It guarantees the public access to environmental information* held by, or for, public authorities*, both upon request and through active dissemination. It sets out the […]