Implementation of EU environmental legislation in the areas of air quality, water and waste (exploratory opinion) - Related Opinions
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The EU chemicals strategy aims to address the cumulative and combined effects of chemicals, including pesticides, stressing a need to accelerate work on methodologies that ensure existing provisions can be fully implemented.
The strategy is intended as a first step towards a zero pollution ambition for a toxic-free environment, as announced in the European Green Deal.
In this exploratory opinion, prepared at the request of the European Commission, the EESC provides its contribution to how environmental laws could be better supported at EU and national level and suggest ways to enhance the role of civil society in the framework of the EIR process.
The revision of Council Directive 98/83/EC on the quality of water intended for human consumption is also part of the plan to transition to a circular economy. The revised proposal will help Member States manage drinking water in a resource-efficient and sustainable manner, thereby helping to reduce energy use and unnecessary water loss. It will also help reduce the number of plastic bottles.
The aim of this Communication is to promote a broad discussion in the Union on how the major elements identified at the interface between chemicals, product and waste legislation can be addressed.
This EESC opinion intends to look deeper into the merits and the consequences of the Commission's Action Plan for nature, people and the economy.
The Commission has developed an action plan to improve the implementation of the Nature Directives, their coherence with socio-economic objectives and engagement with national, regional and local authorities, stakeholders and citizens.
The Environmental Implementation Review (EIR) aims to help fill implementation gaps and to maximise the benefits of Union environment legislation by offering tailored-made support to Member States.
The objective of the Communication on the role of waste-to-energy in the circular economy is to ensure that the recovery of energy from waste in the EU is consistent with the objectives pursued in the Circular Economy Action Plan.