Brussels, 20/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - Seven companies or European organisations that have been outstanding in their environmental management achievements will be awarded the EMAS prize (European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme). The award is given each year by the European Commission. EMAS is a management tool created by European legislation. It allows companies and other organisations that so wish to assess and improve their environmental performance. The award ceremony took place during the evening of Thursday 19 November, in Stockholm.
The 2009 prize-winners are: -in the micro-enterprise category, "Eco-conseil de consultance en environnement", Belgium; - in the small enterprise category, VAS & EK Kottaridi GP, Greece, which specialises in the production and marketing of lime; - in the medium-sized enterprise category, Austria Glas Recycling, a company which organises the collection and recycling of used glass throughout Austria; - in the big enterprise category, VAE Eisenbahnsysteme, Austria ; in the public administration category, three ex æquo firms: Land Oberösterreich, Austria, Umweltbundesamt, Germany, Environment Agency, United Kingdom.
These prize winners were selected from 32 organisations from 12 European countries. The EMAS system was set up under Council regulation1863/93 and entered into force in 1995. Today, there are more than 4,300 organisations covering more than 7,400 sites and participating in it on a voluntary basis. The most recent revision of the EMAS regulation was adopted last October (EUROPE10009). It aims to reduce the system costs, particularly for SMEs and local authorities and allows organisations from third countries to participate in it. (A.N./transl.rh)