Current situation A strong environment is a prerequisite for economic and social progress. Therefore environmental protection needs to be integrated into mainstream decision-making. Article 6 of the European Community Treaty, forms a legal requirement for environmental integration into all policy areas.
What is the EEB doing? Given the importance of integration of environmental interests into all sectoral and horizontal policies, and the weak performance of most Councils, the EEB set up in 2003 an "Article 6 Watchdog". This Watchdog will approach the Councils in a systematic way, from national and EU levels, to insist on this principle and give practical advice. It works with its members and with sister organisations in Europe.
A related activity is the promotion of Impact Assessments with a high environmental quality. While one of the reasons to set up such assessments was the demand for sustainability impact assessment (Goteborg Summit), the EEB is not confident that environmental interests will receive the necessary priority, whereas cost-benefit analysis may dominate, leading to pro-business conclusions. The Commission sees 2003 as a year for test cases, to see how the methodology works out. The EEB is following this closely.
For background information and other links click
For more information, please contact: Pendo MARO email: pendo.maro@eeb.org
Recommendations by Environmental organisations for the Second reading in the EP on Amending Directive 1999/62/EC on the charging of heavy goods vehicles for the use of certain infrastructures (September 2005) - in English, French and German
