The Environmental Implementation Review (EIR), launched by the European Commission in May 2016, aims to increase knowledge on the implementation of EU environmental law and support more effective implementation in the Member States. In the context of the EIR, in February 2017 the Commission...

Directive 2001/42/EC on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment ('Strategic Environmental Assessment' - 'SEA Directive') requires certain public plans and programmes (PPs) to undergo an environmental assessment before they are adopted. The aim of this...

The Guidance on Integrating Climate Change and Biodiversity into Environmental Impact Assessment aims to help Member States improve the way in which climate change and biodiversity are integrated in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) carried out across the EU. This summary gives a brief...

The 7th Environment Action Programme (7th EAP), adopted in 2013 by the European Parliament and the Council, mandates the European Commission, inter alia, to develop by 2018 "a Union strategy for a non-toxic environment that is conducive to innovation and the development of sustainable...

This study aims at understanding the effects of the enforcement action pursued by the European Com-mission on the implementation of EU Environmental law in the Member States. To that end, it provides an assessment of impacts of the enforcement policy of the Commission, in qualitative and, as far...

The present study provides an overview of ASEAN's environmental and economic importance, both globally and for the EU, and assesses the potential environmental and economic benefits that could accrue to the EU from strengthening cooperation with ASEAN in the field of environment. Specific...

This study, prepared for the European Commission's DG Environment, reviews the actual use and implementation of the precautionary principle in EU environmental legislation. The precautionary principle provides a basis for public authorities to take actions aimed at preventing or reducing...

This report presents the results of the Special Eurobarometer public opinion survey on the environment in the 28 European Union countries. This follows three previous Eurobarometer surveys on the environment: Special Eurobarometer 295 (November-December 2007), Special Eurobarometer 365...

Mercury (chemical symbol Hg) is a heavy metal occurring on earth in various forms. It can be converted from one form to another by natural processes, and, once released, actively cycles in the environment for hundreds to thousands of years before being buried in sediment. It is well known for...