Commissioner Bjerregaard presents the main components of European environmental policy
In a speech delivered at a seminar organized by the Group of European Liberal Democratic and Reform Parties (ELDR) in the European Parliament, on 7 March 1996, Mrs. Ritt Bjerregaard, Commissioner responsible for environment policy, presented an overview of elements she considers important to a European environmental policy. These include: - The Fifth Environmental Action Programme which emphasizes the need for the integration of economic and environmental policy; - The harmonization of environmental taxes and convergence of environment-related fiscal reforms in the Member States. In this context, the Commissioner called on the group to support the Commission's proposal for a carbon/energy tax and drew attention to the forthcoming conference on economic incentives and disincentives for environmental protection, due to take place in Rome, Italy, on 7-8 June 1996; - A clear policy on environmental levies aimed at encouraging their use. This will be the subject of a Commission communication to be presented later this year; - Support for the greening of markets through the introduction of measures which will encourage economic actors to see the environment as an integral factor in decision-making. These could include, for example: . Formal recognition for companies with greener policies as if provided through the Community's Eco Management and Auditing Scheme (EMAS); . The provision of information to consumers on companies' environmental policies as provided by the EU Eco-label scheme; . The internalization of environmental costs through the provision of fiscal incentives for green products; . Schemes to support investment in energy saving, such as the Community scheme offering support to SMEs in this area; Speaking of the future, Commissioner Bjerregaard stated her preference for market-based instruments rather than technical regulations, on the basis that the former are generally more cost-effective, and make each consumer and business responsible for their own pollution.