In the nineties a system called the Green Stars identified proposals in the European Commission Annual Workprogramme that would have to come with a sort of Environmental Impact Statement attached. It did not work very well.

In June 2001, the Göteborg European Council adopted the EU's first Sustainable Development Strategy (EU SDS), and at the same time called for the introduction of 'mechanisms to ensure that all major policy proposals include a sustainability impact assessment covering their potential economic, social and environmental consequences'. Subsequently, the Commission's Communication Simplifying and Improving the Regulatory Environment (COM (2001) 726) proposed that 'a coherent method for impact analysis' would be introduced for all major Commission proposals, by the end of 2002.

In a June 2002 Communication (COM(2001) 726), the Commission established an internal system of integrated impact assessment for all major Commission proposals. This was to bring together in a single integrated system all existing internal Commission procedures for impact assessment. The first year of operation of the IA system in 2003 was to be an opportunity for 'learning by doing' in preparation for the full operation of the system in 2004.
All Commission proposals listed in the Commission's annual work programme are subject to a short, preliminary impact assessment, on the basis of which a limited number of initiatives with major economic, environmental or social implications are selected for an 'extended' impact assessment.

The Commission's 2002 Communication on Impact Assessment (COM(2002)276) was followed by the publication by the Strategic Planning and Programming Unit in the Secretariat-
General of more detailed Guidelines, in three parts:

• An operational guide, clarifying roles and procedures;
• A reference manual describing in general terms how to carry out an impact assessment;
• A set of Technical Annexes directed to specialists.
  The Commission's Guidelines reflect approaches to impact assessment practised elsewhere (including in the UK), and they set out a rational, step-by-step approach structured around the following questions or issues:
• What issue/problem is the proposal expected to tackle?
• What is the main objective the proposal is expected to reach?
• What are the main policy options available to reach the objective?
• What are the impacts - positive and negative - expected from these different options?
• How to monitor and evaluate the results and impacts of the policy
• How has stakeholder consultation been approached?
• What is the justification for the final policy choice?
  

  
  

 
Aims

• Ensure that the EU institutions fully implement the obligation, laid down in Article 6 of the treaty of integration of environmental concerns into all its policies.

• In particular promote the systematic inclusion of this obligation in the work of the Councils, as required by the Cardiff Summit.

• Make sure that the Commission will carry out Impact Assessments about all relevant policy proposals, with sufficient transparency and public involvement, and with high environmental standards.

Activities

• Implement an "Article 6 Watch" within the EEB, on the basis of a network of EEB activists in all EU Member States and co-operation with other European environmental organisations. Follow systematically the work of all Councils, and intervene where environmental issues are expected to be at stake, from both EU and national levels.

• Report to the 2004 Spring Council on (lack of) implementation of Article 6, and invite the Council to take measures, if necessary.

• Monitor the drafting process of the 2005 EU Budget and highlight possible strong contradictions with Article 6.

• Systematically follow the Impact Assessment process inside the Commission, and intervene where needed.

• Organisation of a seminar (EEB activists, members/representatives of the three EU Institutions and other environmental organisations)