EU ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

Highlight actions to be taken to improve environmental quality in the Danube – Black Sea region and the outline of a strategy aimed at protecting the environment of the region.

Destructive fishing practices in the high seas pose a threat to fragile deep sea ecosystems. The Commission is proposing a strategy to strengthen international activity within the framework of the United Nations, Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) and international agreements for protection of vulnerable deep sea habitats.

The European Union recommends that the Member States adopt a strategic and integrated approach to the management of their coastal zones. To that end, it lays the foundations for such an approach based on the protection of the coastal area, its economic and socio-cultural development and on coordination. It also recommends a series of principles, a national stocktaking exercise and a national strategy.

It harmonises law on the disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated terphenyls (PCBs/PCTs)* and the decontamination or disposal of equipment containing them.

This legislation prohibits the placing on the market of most batteries and accumulators with a certain mercury or cadmium content and establishes rules for the collection, recycling, treatment and disposal of batteries and accumulators

It sets standards for drinking water.

It aims to protect public health from the adverse effect of any contamination by ensuring water for human consumption* is wholesome and clean.

The European Union Ecolabel is a voluntary environmental labelling system. It enables consumers to recognise high quality eco-friendly products.

It sets out measures to prevent and limit waste from end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) and their components and ensures that where possible this is reused, recycled or recovered.