Doing the Right Things Methodology

Project description and aims

Phase I. Comparison programme on prioritising environmental inspections

The general objective of the Comparison Programme is to acquire a full picture of how different Member States carry out inspections and how they exchange experiences between one another. Another objective is that EU inspectors exchange information and hold discussions on ways how to carry out inspections in order to enforce environmental laws. The exchange of information will promote cross-border co-operation as well as mutual understanding between the countries. The objective of this project was to Explore and analyse similarities and differences in the approach of prioritising environmental inspections by inspecting authorities in IMPEL-Member States, to acquire understanding in the way inspecting authorities in IMPEL Member States deal with “options” in their inspection plans and programmes and to promote the availability of practical information on the environmental situation and the effectiveness of the policymaking process to the policy-makers.

Phase II. Step-by-step guidance book for planning of environmental inspections

In 2006 the Netherlands led an IMPEL Comparison Programme Doing the right things I. One of the main aims of this project was to explore how inspection authorities set priorities with regard to their tasks and activities, being one of the key steps in setting up inspection plans. An important recommendation of this project was to develop a practical guide on planning of environmental inspections, that would be sufficiently flexible to accommodate the different needs of the inspection authorities in the IMPEL Member Countries and at the same time would enable them to comply with the requirements of the RMCEI.

Phase III. Implementation of the step-by-step guidance book for planning of environmental inspections

The main objective of this project, executed in 2008 and 2009, was to facilitate, support and promote the implementation of the Doing the right things methodology, using the step-by-step guidance book. Practitioners from 24 IMPEL member countries participated in the workshops and the training sessions. All the objectives were delivered through the products described in the main report. The resulting conclusions led to recommendations for future IMPEL work and follow up activities.

Whilst managing the project useful lessons were learned which are shared herein.

In general the outcome of this project can be described as: increased knowledge in the IMPEL member countries about the methodology as described in the step-by-step guidance book; in almost all IMPEL member countries a discussion has started on the implementation of the methodology; and a successful implementation of the methodology took place in a number of Inspecting Authorities.