EU ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

EU environmental policies and legislation protect natural habitats, keep air and water clean, ensure proper waste disposal, improve knowledge about toxic chemicals and help businesses move toward a sustainable economy.

The following is a list of EU Environment and Climate Change related legislation documents and weblinks that are currently available on Lean Business Ireland.

Putting the EU’s solidarity clause into practice
2014/415/EU: Council Decision of 24 June 2014 on the arrangements for the implementation by the Union of the solidarity clause

The decision lays down the rules and procedures for the operation of the solidarity clause. It ensures that all the parties concerned at national and at EU level work together to respond quickly, effectively and consistently in the event of terrorist attacks or natural or man-made disasters.

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Quality of shellfish waters
Directive 2006/113/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on the quality required of shellfish waters

The European Union (EU) establishes compulsory quality criteria for EU countries' shellfish waters.
• In this way, it seeks to safeguard certain shellfish from the harmful effects of discharges of pollutants into the seas.

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Radioactive substances in water intended for human consumption: protection of public health
Council Directive 2013/51/Euratom of 22 October 2013 laying down requirements for the protection of the health of the general public with regard to radioactive substances in water intended for human consumption

The directive sets out various requirements to protect the health of the general public from potentially harmful radioactive substances that may be present in drinking water.

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Radioactive waste & spent fuel – safety rules
Council Directive 2011/70/Euratom of 19 July 2011 establishing a Community framework for the responsible and safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste

It lays down:

  • principles to guide national policies on radioactive waste and spent fuel from civilian nuclear activities,
  • the scope of national legislative, regulatory and organisational frameworks,
  • rules on disposal

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Radioactive waste shipments – supervision and control
Council Directive 2006/117/Euratom of 20 November 2006 on the supervision and control of shipments of radioactive waste and spent fuel

  • Allows for spent fuel to be sent between EU countries for reprocessing.
  • Requires prior authorisation for moving radioactive waste and spent fuel* across borders if it is being sent from, through or to an EU country.
  • Stipulates that shipments of radioactive substances which flout the directive must be returned to their country of origin.

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Rail, maritime & waterway transport – Maritime Policy Green Paper [archived]
Maritime Policy Green Paper

In June 2006, the Commission published a Green Paper on the different aspects of a future Community maritime policy. The Green Paper highlights Europe’s maritime identity and leadership, which is worth preserving at a time when environmental pressures are threatening the future of maritime activities. Consequently, the maritime policy must aim to promote a maritime industry that is innovative, competitive and environmentally-friendly. In addition to maritime activities, the Green Paper proposes that the approach include the issue of quality of life in coastal regions. With this aim in mind, the Green Paper considers what new tools and modes of maritime governance should be developed.

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Rail, maritime & waterway transport – Programme for the promotion of short sea shipping [archived]
Communication from the Commission- Programme for the Promotion of Short Sea Shipping

This communication sets out a programme for the promotion of short sea shipping within the European Union (EU), consisting of legislative, technical and operational actions.

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Rail, maritime & waterway transport – Promotion of inland waterway transport NAIADES
Communication from the Commission on the promotion of inland waterway transport "NAIADES" - an integrated European Action Programme for Inland Waterway Transport

Inland waterways can make a major contribution to a sustainable European Union transport system, reducing congestion and pollution on Europe’s roads. However, national and EU-level initiatives are needed to develop its full potential.

It presents an integrated strategy to make the use of inland navigation more attractive and feasible. The action programme ‘Navigation and inland waterway action and development in Europe’ (NAIADES) focuses on 5 strategic areas.

KEY POINTS

  • Markets: opportunities should be developed, particularly in niche areas such as the transport of waste, dangerous goods, extremely large loads and river-sea-shipping.
  • Fleet: continuous investment in modernisation and innovation are necessary to improve vessel design, reduce fuel consumption and improve safety technology.
  • Jobs and skills: better working and social conditions, allied to appropriate education and training facilities, should encourage people to work in the sector.
  • Image: inland navigation’s outdated image should be improved and modernised so it accurately reflects the technological performance that has been achieved.
  • Infrastructure: a European development plan could remove the many bottlenecks which exist such as low bridges and narrow locks. This should be accompanied by modernisation of the overall organisational structure to remove administrative hurdles.

In 2013, the Commission updated the NAIADES programme (NAIADES II), setting out specific objectives up to 2020. Its aim is to create the conditions for inland navigation to become a quality form of transport.

In 2014, the EU adopted legislation to enable governments to take measures to improve the sector’s competitiveness through early retirement schemes, wider use of innovation and training and safety programmes.

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