Commission adopts White paper on environmental liability
The European Commission has adopted a White paper on Environmental liability in order to explore how the 'polluter pays' principle can best be applied to assist the Community's policy for environmental protection. The White paper responds to a request from the European Parliament for proposals for legislation in this field and it explores how a Community regime on environmental liability can best be shaped. The Commission believes a Community framework Directive on environmental liability will provide the best route of Community action in this field. 'So far, the Member States of the European Union have established national environmental liability regimes that cover damage to persons and goods and they have introduced laws to deal with liability for, and clean-up of, contaminated sites. However, until now, these national regimes have not really addressed the issue of liability for damage to nature,' says the Commission. Protecting nature has traditionally been seen as a public responsibility, it adds. 'The introduction of liability for damage to nature as proposed in the White paper, is expected to bring about a change of attitude that should result in an increased level of prevention and precaution.'