IMPEL projects
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Permitting under Article 6 (3) of the Habitats Directive
2016 - 2018
CompletedThe Birds and Habitats Directives are central to achieving the EU 2020 target of halting and reversing the loss of biodiversity endorsed by Heads of State and Government. The Commission has adopted an ambitious strategy to achieve this objective, comprised of six targets. Target 1 of this Strategy is focused on “Full implementation of EU nature legislation to protect” biodiversity and requires a significant improvement in conservation status.
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Reducing pesticides in water
2016 - 2016
CompletedThe balance between a competitive agricultural production and the protection of water ecosystems is a concern for the EU member states within the common agricultural policy (CAP) and the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Instruments for achieving sustainable use of pesticides are voluntary agro-environment commitments funded within Rural Development Programs (RDPs) and regulatory minimum requirements of cross compliance and basic measures according to WFD. In order to achieve the objectives of good status in ground- and surface waters, article 11.3 in WFD states that a review of, and if necessary updates of, the measures to prevent and control the use of pesticides should be performed and included in the River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs). The national regulation in order to reach the objectives should be described and this legal baseline of basic measures to prevent and control the use of pesticides according to the directive (2009/128/EC) of sustainable use of pesticides should be identified in the program of measures that the member states are finalising in December 2015 according to WFD. Furthermore, according to WFD risk based (operational) monitoring programs should be designed in order to follow the need of measures in order to reduce pollutants in ground- and surface waters. These costs of monitoring are within the member states to a various extent covered by the public and the pesticide users. The implementation of the WFD has been running for the first management cycle and there are various implementation gaps in member states depending on prerequisites and national problems and opportunities. IMPEL network plans to exchange plans and strategies for facilitating further implementation of the WFD in national law in order to achieve a harmonized balance between obligatory and voluntary measures and a harmonised use of the polluter pays principle when costs of monitoring are to be shared.
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IED Baseline Report
2015 - 2017
CompletedThe Baseline Report has been introduced in European law since only a few years. Nonetheless, some Member States have already acquired a considerable experience regarding soil investigations, with well established procedures based in some cases on decades of practical experience. The aim of the IED Baseline Report is primarily the assessment of the soil quality at the start of the renewal of the permit of a industrial activity as to establish an initial state. The objective is to provide a basis for comparison upon definitive closure of the activity, as to make possible the application of the “polluter pays principle” on a objective basis.
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Implementation Challenge – Embedding the results in IMPEL’s work programme.
2015 - 2017
CompletedIMPEL recently carried out a study – ‘Challenges in the practical implementation of EU environmental law and how IMPEL could help overcome them’ – involving a questionnaire survey and desk-based research to identify key implementation challenges faced by environmental authorities in its member countries. This has provided very useful information to help focus IMPEL’s work programmes for the future. Further work is now needed to elaborate on the more detailed nature of the implementation challenges that have been identified and to investigate cross-cutting issues and themes. This will provide a valuable input to help identify specific priorities for IMPEL’s 5 Expert Teams and to shape IMPEL’s multi-annual strategy for the future.
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Risk Criteria Database
2015 - 2015
CompletedThe project was developed because of the strong demand for effective instruments for aiming inspections, in an optimized way, for the check of respect of EU legislation related to human activities; not only for large Industries but also for other human activities. The quality of the environment also depends on smaller installations and on agriculture, with potential and actual impact over environmental compartments such as air, soil, water.
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Implementation of the iDepend decision support tool
2015 - 2015
CompletedThe complex and interdependent nature of the environment, business and regulation means conventional methods of analysing environmental risks and choosing appropriate ‘counter measures’, or ‘interventions’, may not be effective. The Choosing Appropriate Interventions project has developed a practical tool for regulators, inspectorates and inspectors to help them make the right choice of intervention and share good practice and experience.
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IMPEL Review Initiative focussing on Nature Conservation (‘Green IRI’)
2014
OngoingFollowing the general IMPEL Review Initiative (IRI), this projects aims to make a picture of current situation within Member State or in certain area of the Member State in relation to the implementation and enforcement of EU legislation on nature conservation; mainly the Birds and Habitats Directives. The results are identified good practices and opportunities for improvement.
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Implementation and Enforcement of the EU Timber Regulation
2015 - 2015
CompletedThe state of play of implementation of the EU Timber Regulation is still unsatisfactory as demonstrated by the latest surveys conducted by the Commission. The outcome of the surveys is supported by parallel analysis of non-governmental organisations (e.g. WWF 2014 barometer, ClientEarth, Greenpeace). Absence of effective and uniform implementation and enforcement of the EU Timber Regulation is worrying as it may jeopardise the instrument and may have negative impact on the entire FLEGT Action Plan.
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Nature protection in permitting and inspection of industrial installations – Implementation of Art. 6(3) of the Habitats Directive (phase 1, 2 & 3)
2014 - 2015
CompletedThis project consists of two phases. It started in 2014 with the project “Nature protection in permitting and inspection of industrial installations Implementation of Art. 6(3) of the Habitats Directive”. The main findings of the project 2014 concluded that there is a need for improving knowledge about and use of EU guidance and awareness raising measures, sharing existing national guidance and scientific studies, exchanging knowledge about screening criteria and assessment methodologies, e.g accepted practices: use of Critical Loads (CL), criteria for habitat loss (Fachkonventionen DE), new approaches e.g. for evaluation of Nitrogen-deposition. It also suggested to develop a targeted user-friendly guidance.
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Support and follow up to the Romanian Nature Conservation IRI
2015
CompletedIn 2014, the first ‘green’ IRI was executed in Romania. Best practice and opportunities for development were identified. During the course of the IRI, the Romanian National Environmental Guard (NEG) pointed out that certain results of the IRI were cogent in their analysis and that further work should be carried out to help them implement the results. The NEG therefore requested an exchange of knowledge and expertise focusing on, for example, the organisation of environmental and nature protection agencies: should they be separated or merged?
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