Commission guidelines on environmental agreements
The European Commission has adopted a communication, as well as a Recommendation to Member States, on Environmental Agreements concluded with industry. The promotion of such agreements forms part of the Community's efforts to complement environmental legislation by market-based instruments. The present initiative is based on the principle of shared responsibility and is intended to reinforce the dialogue with industry. The Commission's communication, adopted on the initiative of Mrs. Ritt Bjerregaard, Commissioner for the environment, aims to create a framework for effective and reliable agreements between public authorities and industry for the purpose of environmental protection. It analyses the advantages and limitations of such agreements and presents the necessary preconditions for their successful use. The Commission Recommendation provides Member States with clear guidelines for concluding Environmental Agreements to implement certain provisions of EU Directives.