EU Environment Policy

Latest business news about the Environment Policy of the European Union.

The objective of the Directorate-General for the Environment is to protect, preserve and improve the environment for present and future generations. To achieve this it proposes policies that ensure a high level of environmental protection in the European Union and that preserve the quality of life of EU citizens. The four priorities of the DG for the years 2002 to 2012 are climate change; nature and biodiversity; environment, health and quality of life; and natural resources and waste.

FACT SHEETS

General Policies

• The Sixth Environment Action Programme
• European Climate Change Programme
• EU Climate change and energy package
• Reducing CO2 Emissions from light-duty vehicles

Nature and Biodiversity

• Nature and Biodiversity
• REACH - Recycling and Waste Prevention - Clean Air

Funding Opportunities

EU Environment Contacts

LATEST NEWS

EU Financial assistance for the decommissioning of nuclear plants in Bulgaria, Lithuania and Slovakia: Achievements and Future Challenges - ECA Special Report No 16/2011 — 08 February 2012, 11:39 CET

In the framework of the EU accession negotiations, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Slovakia committed to the early closure and decommissioning of eight nuclear reactors, thus facing a significant production capacity loss. The Court assessed the effectiveness of the EU financial assistance (2 850 million euro up to now) in supporting recipient countries’ efforts to decommission their closed nuclear reactors and to address the consequences of the early closure. The Court found that progress has been slow, no comprehensive assessment of future needs exists, and available funding is plainly insufficient. The Court recommended making conditional any further support upon an evaluation of the EU added value.

EU funding shortfall for ex-Soviet nuclear plants clean-up — 08 February 2012, 11:41 CET

The EU faces a shortfall of some 2.5 billion euros to complete de-commissioning of eight ex-Soviet nuclear plants in Bulgaria, Lithuania and Slovakia, says the European Court of Auditors.

Airline industry split widens over EU carbon 'tax' row — 07 February 2012, 23:49 CET

A split widened within the aviation industry Tuesday over EU charges for carbon emissions, as Europe's low-cost carriers accused Chinese and US rivals of "gunboat" diplomacy against the system.

EU 'not backing down' on airline emissions in Chinese row — 07 February 2012, 12:29 CET

The European Commission said Monday it will stand by a new law that imposes charges on airline carbon emissions after China banned its carriers from paying for such permits.

China bans airlines from paying EU carbon charges — 06 February 2012, 16:43 CET

China said Monday it has banned its airlines from complying with an EU scheme to impose charges on carbon emissions opposed by more than two dozen countries including India, Russia and the United States.

India, Russia, US, China plan anti-carbon tax talks — 04 February 2012, 12:41 CET

India, Russia, the United States, China and other countries will meet in Moscow this month to decide whether to retaliate against the EU's decision to impose a carbon tax on air travel, a report says.

EU climate chief sees 'unpleasant' talks ahead — 03 February 2012, 12:27 CET

EU climate chief Connie Hedegaard acknowledged Friday that "difficult and unpleasant" negotiations lay ahead with countries like India and China to agree a global framework to cut greenhouse-gas emissions.

EU issues ultimatum to 13 nations for cruelty to hens — 26 January 2012, 13:56 CET

Brussels issued an ultimatum to 13 European nations Thursday to improve conditions for tens of millions of laying-hens held in tiny cramped cages -- or face legal action in two months.

EU vows legal action on cramped hen cages — 20 January 2012, 10:11 CET

The European Commission warned Thursday that it would launch legal action in the coming days against 14 EU countries that still allow farmers to keep egg-laying hens in cramped, illegal cages.

US joins effort to draw up space 'code of conduct' — 18 January 2012, 13:04 CET

The United States pledged Tuesday to join an EU-led effort to develop a space "code of conduct" that would set rules for orbiting spacecraft and for mitigating the growing problem of orbiting debris.

French court orders Total to pay 300,000 euro fine over leak — 17 January 2012, 18:36 CET

A French court ordered energy giant Total to pay a 300,000 euro ($382,000) fine Tuesday for pollution caused by an oil leak in the Loire river at its Donges refinery in western France.

Italy violated human rights in garbage crisis: court — 10 January 2012, 17:45 CET

The Italian government violated residents' human rights by allowing festering heaps of garbage to go uncollected from the streets for months, a European high court said Tuesday.

EU stands firm on airline emissions despite Chinese fury — 06 January 2012, 12:47 CET

The European Union refused Thursday to back down from a disputed airline emissions fee despite China's refusal to pay the new charge to land in Europe.

Chinese carriers 'won't pay' EU carbon charge — 05 January 2012, 12:14 CET

Chinese airlines will not pay a charge on carbon emissions imposed by the European Union from January 1, a national aviation industry group said on Thursday.

Airlines face EU pollution bill from New Year — 29 December 2011, 11:07 CET

Airlines will have to buy pollution permits to fly in Europe from January 1 under a disputed EU system to fight climate change, but slumping carbon market prices could make the bill less painful.

China says it opposes EU airline emissions charges — 22 December 2011, 12:52 CET

China Thursday joined Washington in opposing a plan by the European Union to impose carbon emissions charges on all airlines in its airspace from January 1, warning it risked sparking a trade war.

EU, US lock horns on Europe airline emissions charges — 21 December 2011, 22:52 CET

Europe and the United States headed for confrontation Wednesday after the EU won key legal backing for its proposal to slap carbon emissions charges on all airlines in its airspace from January 1.

EU wins court green light to start airline emissions charges — 21 December 2011, 18:41 CET

Europe pledged Wednesday to press on with new charges for airline carbon emissions across its airspace as of January 1, after scoring a key victory over US rivals in the EU's top court.

Car makers risk EUR 10bn fine for EU carbon breach — 20 December 2011, 23:14 CET

A handful of car makers risk potential fines of 10 billion euros for failing to meet European targets on carbon emissions in 2012, the European Environment Agency (EEA) said on Tuesday.

EU unyielding on airline carbon rules despite US pressure — 20 December 2011, 23:16 CET

The EU will go ahead with its hotly contested plan to charge airlines for carbon emissions despite US threats of reprisal, should it win European Court of Justice backing, EU sources said Tuesday.

Was Durban a significant step forward? — 19 December 2011, 16:34 CET

The Durban agreement was essentially an agreement to keep talking. All countries promised to negotiate commitments, but no actual commitments were made.

EU stuck on three new GM authorisations — 16 December 2011, 15:59 CET

Failure by EU agriculture ministers to decide on authorisation for three genetically-modified maize and cotton strains overnight left the matter in the hands of the EU executive on Friday.

Fish-friendly laundry and dishwasher detergents - guide — 15 December 2011, 00:01 CET

Washing powders and dishwasher detergents will need to be almost phosphate-free in future, following a vote in the European Parliament on Wednesday. The measures aim to protect aquatic life in waterways and seas around the EU.

EU hails 'historic breakthrough' at UN climate talks — 11 December 2011, 16:03 CET

The European Union on Sunday hailed a "historic breakthrough" after UN climate talks produced a roadmap towards an accord joining all major greenhouse-gas emitters.

Euro, climate crises prompt rethink of growth: Stern — 09 December 2011, 17:47 CET

Nicholas Stern, author of a landmark report on climate change, said Friday the crisis of the euro and the fight against greenhouse gases required a rethink of the concept of growth.