NEWS
European Commission conference: “Implementation of EU environment legislation – how we can do better”
A stakeholders conference was held in Brussels on 15 June to discuss and find ways of improving implementation of environment legislation. Opened by Director-General of DG Environment, Karl Falkenberg and closed by Environment Commissioner, Janez Potocnik, the conference touched upon the main implementation challenges, how to better harness shared knowledge and information systems in understanding implementation gaps, the challenge of finding and using resources better, using networks and understanding the legal framework complaint handling and environmental inspections.
IMPEL was represented by its new Chair, Zofia Tucinska, and its Secretary, Michael Nicholson, as well as Mikel Ballesteros from Spain. Terry Shears, Vice Chair of IMPEL, and Jan Teekens, Chair of IMPEL’s Cluster 3, also attended and gave presentations on behalf of IMPEL on the role of networks as well as on highlighting three key projects the network have carried out to improve implementation and enforcement of legislation: Doing the Right Things, the IMPEL Review Initiative, Neighbourhood Dialogues.
The speech from European Commissioner, Janez Potocnik, can be viewed here. A video recording of the event can be seen here. The Commission’s website also has a summary of events.