Commission reviews past year's environmental initiatives
Mrs. Ritt Bjerregaard, Commissioner responsible for the environment, has published a brief review of the Commission's initiatives in the environmental field in the last 12 months. Writing in DG XI's newsletter, Commissioner Bjerregaard first notes the Community's participation in the recent UN Earth Summit II, where world leaders reviewed progress on the environmental objectives agreed at Rio in 1992. Other initiatives taken up by the Commission included events to mark World Environment Day on 5 June, and the renewal of the European Green Forum, which provides advice to the Commission on environmental policy. In total, 18 legislative proposals in the environmental field have been adopted by the Commission in the past 12 months. Mrs. Bjerregaard notes that each of these will have a positive effect on the environment of European citizens, once they enter into force in the Member States. In 1997, for the first time, the Commission started proceedings against a number of Member States for failing to implement environmental legislation. Under powers introduced in the Maastricht treaty, these Member States are liable to pay fines if they do not rectify the situation. Commission initiatives so far in 1997 include: - A proposal to allow Member States to introduce environmental taxes, without infringing Single Market provisions; - A proposal for a framework Directive on Community water policy; - A Community strategy for acid rain and acidification; - A proposal for a Directive on standards for landfill waste; - A proposal on the labelling of genetically modified raw materials. The Commission is also currently preparing a White Paper on environmental liability, following the "polluter pays" principle.