There is a long way to go from words to deeds, judging by the state of play of implementing EU environmental policies and legislation in EU Member States, published on Thursday 8 September by the European Commission.
The Environmental Implementation Review (EIR), a tool to help Member States improve their environmental performance in order to meet their obligations, is the third of its kind and the first since the adoption of the European Green Deal.
It paints a bleak picture, whether in terms of waste management, biodiversity, water management, air quality or adaptation to climate change, but with different situations in different countries and examples of best practice to follow.
Referring to the new path opened up by the European Green Deal to combine “economic growth, the conservation of nature, a healthier environment for citizens and future generations and increased EU independence from fossil fuels”, EU Commissioner for Environment Virginijus Sinkevičius called on the EU27 to bridge the implementation gap.
“It is not enough to choose the path. We have to walk on it. Extreme weather events will be more frequent and more violent. To protect our livelihoods and ensure long-term food security, all Member States must fully and properly implement the existing rules without delay. This will be cheaper than the cost of not taking action, which is estimated at €55 billion per year”, he said when presenting the EIR 2022, together with the country-specific reports and recommendations. The previous review was in April 2019 (see EUROPE 12230/11).
For the first time, an overview of the Commission’s infringement procedures is available online.
Believing that the implementation of EU environmental policies and legislation is “essential for a healthy environment, necessary for the development of a healthy and sustainable society”, Mr Sinkevičius said he was counting on citizens to “use this essential tool to demand implementation from their governments”. He reminded governments that the Commission could provide technical and financial assistance.
To turn things around, the Commission also recommends focusing on two priorities: environmental funding, with “investment needs at €110 billion a year”, and governance, through citizens’ access to national courts.
Circular economy and waste management. The review shows wide disparities between Member States in both waste management and resource productivity. Waste prevention and management remains a major challenge. Seventeen out of 27 Member States need to adopt measures to increase their material use rate and 20 Member States have still not adopted waste management and prevention plans. Twelve countries are subject to infringement procedures for illegal dumping.
Biodiversity. Its decline continues in the EU. The EIR focuses on the implementation of the ‘Nature’ directives on species and habitat protection. Twenty-five Member States have yet to finish designating their Natura 2000 sites and define the conservation measures to achieve favourable status for protected habitats and species.
Air quality. Air pollution, which is responsible for 400,000 premature deaths per year in the EU, continues to be a threat as the limit values imposed by EU legislation on hazardous pollutants are exceeded. Eighteen infringement procedures are underway.
Water management. Management plans are slow and 19 Member States are subject to infringement procedures for discharging urban waste water without the required pre-treatment.
Adaptation to climate change. “Efforts must be stepped up immediately”, the commissioner said, mentioning early warning systems for drought risks, cross-border cooperation and a strengthened joint response to forest fires.
The 2022 EIR: https://aeur.eu/f/30e
The map of infringement procedures: https://aeur.eu/f/30a (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)