Promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources Directive 2009/28/EC — promoting the use of energy from renewable sources This directive, which amends and repeals earlier Directives 2001/77/EC and 2003/30/EC, creates a common set of rules for the use of renewable energy in the EU so as to limit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and promote cleaner transport. It sets national binding targets for all […]
Moving toward competitive sustainable and secure energy for Europe The European Union (EU) is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by between 80-95 % below 1990 levels by 2050. It has a clear agenda up to 2020. Now it is setting a new direction for its decarbonisation ambitions for the following 3 decades in order to provide certainty for investors, governments and citizens. Communication […]
Mechanism for monitoring greenhouse gases Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 — mechanism for monitoring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions and other information relevant to climate change This regulation, the Monitoring Mechanism Regulation (MMR), significantly expands and strengthens the previous mechanism for monitoring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the EU. It aims to enhance the monitoring and reporting procedures and rules for GHG emissions. Incorporating new reporting […]
Reducing man-made greenhouse gases (fluorinated gases) The regulation is designed to mitigate climate change and protect the environment by reducing emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases). It aims to cut these by two thirds of today’s levels by 2030. Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on fluorinated greenhouse gases and repealing Regulation (EC) No 842/2006. […]
CO2 emission performance standards for new heavy-duty vehicles Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 — setting CO2 emission performance standards for new heavy-duty vehicles It sets out the EU’s first CO2 emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles. It will operate alongside Regulation (EU) 2019/631 to set out emission reduction targets for the EU road transport sector. It forms part of the EU’s strategy to achieve its greenhouse gas emissions […]
Carbon dioxide capture and storage The geological storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) can prevent and minimise the harmful effects of climate change. This directive establishes rules to ensure this practice is done safely. Directive 2009/31/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the geological storage of carbon dioxide and amending Council Directive 85/337/EEC, European Parliament and Council Directives 2000/60/EC, […]
European eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) The European Union eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) aims to encourage companies and other organisations to continually improve their environmental performance. It is open to any organisation inside or outside the EU, spans all economic and service Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the voluntary participation by organisations […]
Ecodesign requirements — welding equipment Regulation (EU) 2019/1784 — laying down ecodesign requirements for welding equipment It sets out ecodesign requirements for the placing on the market or the putting into service of electrical mains-operated welding equipment. Key Points It lists the welding processes to which the regulation applies and those to which it does not. The ecodesign requirements are set out in Annex II, […]
Targets for 2020 The climate and energy package comprises complementary legislation, aimed at ensuring the EU meets its ambitious climate and energy targets for 2020. The package sets 3 key targets: Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources and amending and subsequently repealing Directives 2001/77/EC and 2003/30/EC […]
Programme for the environment and climate action (LIFE) (2014-20) This regulation establishes the fifth version of the LIFE programme, the EU’s main funding framework for environmental and climate change policy. It focuses on concrete environmental and climate policy priorities as well as areas for action. Regulation (EU) No 1293/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the establishment of […]
Substances Harming the Ozone Layer EU regulation covers certain substances harmful to the ozone layer. These include CFCs, HCFCs, and certain other substances. The regulation also affects products and equipment relying on these substances. The placing on the market or production of the substances or products and equipment containing them is prohibited with the exception of certain limited uses. The placing on the market of […]
Conservation of wild birds Directive 2009/147/EC on the conservation of wild birds It seeks to conserve all wild birds in the EU by setting out rules for their protection, conservation, management and control. It covers birds, their eggs, nests and habitats. It codifies legislation originally adopted in 1979 (Directive 79/409/EEC). Directive 2009/147/EC was amended in 2019 by Regulation (EU) 2019/1010 which aligns and streamlines reporting […]
EU rules on national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants Directive (EU) 2016/2284 on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants It aims to reduce the health risks and environmental impact of air pollution by establishing national emission reduction commitments. The directive also aligns emission reduction commitments under EU law with international commitments (following the revision of the Gothenburg Protocol in 2012). The legislation […]
Polluting emissions from large combustion plants The European Union sets limits for emissions of pollutants from large combustion plants. Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control). Directive 2010/75/EU on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control) came into force in 2011 and replaces seven previous pieces of legislation, including Directive […]
Internal market in gas Directive 2009/73/EC on common rules for the internal market in natural gas It aims to introduce common rules for the transmission, distribution, supply and storage of natural gas* with the objectives of providing market access and enabling fair and non-discriminatory competition. It concerns natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), biogas and gas from biomass. Rules for the organisation of the sector […]
Natural gas transmission networks Regulation (EC) No 715/2009 on conditions for access to the natural gas transmission networks It lays down rules for access to: natural gas transmission* networks; gas storage; and liquefied natural gas facilities. These rules aim to counteract barriers to competition in the EU’s market for natural gas and to ensure its smooth operation. Key Points The regulation determines: how tariffs (solely […]
Renewable energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources It recasts and repeals previous legislation (Directive 2008/28/EC, Directive (EU) 2015/1513 and Council Directive 2013/18/EU). It establishes a common system to promote energy from renewable sources across the different sectors. In particular, it: sets a binding European Union (EU) target for its share in the energy mix in 2030; […]
Governance of the energy union Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 on the governance of the energy union and climate action It aims to ensure that the European Union’s (EU) energy union strategy is implemented in a coordinated and coherent manner across its five dimensions. More broadly, it also aims to ensure that the EU achieves its objectives, in particular the targets of the 2030 policy framework for […]
Emergency oil stocks Directive 2009/119/EC obliging EU countries to maintain minimum stocks of crude oil and/or petroleum products It aims to secure the European Union (EU) oil supply by requiring governments to keep a minimum level of crude oil and/or petroleum stocks. It sets out procedures for releasing these if there is a serious shortage. Key Points EU countries must: maintain total oil stocks equivalent […]
Energy performance of buildings Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings It aims to improve the energy performance of buildings in the EU, taking into account various climatic and local conditions. It sets out minimum requirements and a common framework for calculating energy performance. Following a review of its implementation, Directive 2010/31/EU was amended in 2018 by Directive (EU) 2018/844. The principal aim was […]
Revised Statutes for the Euratom Supply Agency Decision 2008/114/EC, Euratom establishing Statutes for the Euratom Supply Agency Article 52 of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) Treaty It establishes Statutes for the Euratom Supply Agency (ESA), which was directly established by the Euratom Treaty of 1957, to take account of the increase in the number of EU countries as well as to modernise the Agency’s […]
Wholesale electricity and gas markets — EU oversight rules Regulation (EU) No 1227/2011 — wholesale energy market integrity and transparency It establishes a framework for monitoring wholesale energy markets*. It aims to prohibit abuses such as insider trading* and market manipulation. Key Points The regulation strengthens the role of the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER). ACER’s tasks include the following. — Monitoring trading […]
Electric and gas-powered vehicles — recharging/refuelling stations Directive 2014/94/EU — deploying the EU’s alternative fuels infrastructure It establishes standard rules on rolling out the EU’s alternative fuels* infrastructure (i.e. electric car recharging stations or natural gas refuelling points) in the different EU countries. It lays down minimum requirements for building up this infrastructure, to be implemented as part of every EU country’s national policy framework. […]
Electricity data — generation, transportation and consumption Regulation (EU) No 543/2013 on the submission and publication of data in electricity markets WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION? It aims to improve the transparency of electricity markets. It provides for the publication of electricity generation, transportation and consumption data. Key Points The regulation requires the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (the ENTSO […]
Cross-border exchanges in electricity Regulation (EU) 2019/943 on the internal market for electricity It revises the rules and principles of the internal EU electricity market to ensure it is well-functioning, competitive and undistorted. It also supports the decarbonisation of the EU’s energy sector and the removal of barriers to cross-border trade in electricity. The regulation is part of the Clean Energy for all Europeans package. […]
Connecting Europe Facility Regulation (EU) No 1316/2013 establishing the Connecting Europe Facility It establishes the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) which supports projects of common interest (that is, of interest to the EU as a whole) for infrastructure in the fields of: transport; telecommunications; and energy. Its ultimate aim is to speed up investment in trans-European networks and to leverage funding from the public and private […]
Use of sewage sludge in agriculture The European Union regulates use of sewage sludge in agriculture to prevent harmful effects on soil, vegetation, animals and humans. In particular it sets maximum values of concentrations of heavy metals and bans the spreading of sewage sludge when the concentration of certain substances in the soil exceeds these values. Council Directive 86/278/EEC of 12 June 1986 on the […]
The reusing, recycling and recovering of motor vehicles Vehicle manufacturers must henceforth comply with minimum thresholds for the re-use, recycling and recovery of the component parts and materials of new vehicles. The aim is to ensure that vehicles are designed so as to facilitate processing at the end of their life cycle. Directive 2005/64/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 October […]
Substances affecting the ozone layer The European Union (EU) wishes to phase out substances which deplete the ozone layer in order to protect human health and the environment. To contribute towards this objective, this Regulation integrates the provisions of the Montreal Protocol. It prohibits the production and placing on the market of the most dangerous substances such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). It also lays down rules […]
Reduction of pollution caused by waste from the titanium dioxide industry This Directive sets up, according to Article 9 (3) of Directive 78/176/EEC, procedures for the harmonisation of programmes for the reduction of pollution caused by waste from existing industrial establishments, and improves the conditions of competition in the sector of titanium dioxide production. Council Directive 92/112/EEC of 15 December 1992 on procedures for harmonizing […]
Non-road mobile machinery: gaseous pollutants In order to reduce air pollution caused by the engines of non-road mobile machinery, the Directive specifies, at Community level, acceptable emission standards for these engines and certification procedures with respect to these standards. Directive 97/68/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 1997 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to […]
Flood management and evaluation The purpose of this Directive is to manage and reduce the risk of floods, particularly along rivers and in coastal areas. It provides for assessment of the risk of flooding in river basins, the mapping of flood risks in all regions where there is a serious risk of flooding and the drawing up of flood risk management plans based on close […]
Regulatory agencies The European regulatory agencies lack a common framework for governance, and clarity about their role and accountability. With this Communication, the Commission is aiming to re-launch an inter-institutional discussion on the role and place of regulatory agencies in the governance of the EU. This discussion should then result in a common vision on the functions of the regulatory agencies. The present Communication concerns […]
Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) EMAS aims at encouraging European organisations, be they private companies or public bodies, to improve their environmental performance. The aim of this new Regulation is to develop the existing scheme and to encourage a larger number of organisations to participate. It represents a considerable asset, bringing them added value in terms of regulatory control, cost savings and public image […]
Assessment of the environmental impact of projects The European Union requires an environmental impact assessment to be carried out before approval can be granted for certain public and private projects. The Directive lists the projects concerned, the information to be provided and the third parties to be consulted in connection with approving such a project. Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment […]
Arhus Convention The European Union wishes to keep citizens informed about and involved in environmental matters and to improve the application of environmental legislation by approving the Convention on access to information, public participation and access to justice in environmental matters (Århus Convention). Council Decision 2005/370/EC of 17 February 2005 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of the Convention on access to […]
Basel Convention The Basel Convention lays down rules to control, at an international level, transboundary movements of wastes hazardous to human health and the environment, and their disposal. Council Decision 93/98/EEC of 1 February 1993 on the conclusion, on behalf of the Community, of the Convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal (Basel Convention). Council Decision 97/640/EC of 22 […]