Reply to Recommendation 1331 (1997) - Establishing international standards for assessing the environmental impact of industrial enterprises

Doc. 8006

6 February 1998

Establishing international standards for assessing the environmental impact of industrial enterprises

Reply to Recommendation 1331 (1997)

from the Committee of Ministers

adopted on 21 janvier 1998 at the 616^th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies

The Committee of Ministers has carefully examined Recommendation 1331 (1997) of the Parliamentary Assembly on establishing international standards for assessing the environmental impact of industrial enterprises.

a. The Committee of Ministers agrees with the Parliamentary Assembly that direct or indirect pressures placed on the environment by polluters make it advisable to introduce voluntary standards which, combined with compulsory mechanisms, could serve to promote both sustainable development and industrial performance.

b. Like the Parliamentary Assembly, the Committee of Ministers welcomes the steps taken by the European Union in this regard and therefore emphasises the desirability of close co-operation with the European Union in this field and the necessity of avoiding any unnecessary overlapping of activities.

c. The Committee of Ministers also agrees with the Parliamentary Assembly that the encouragement of proper environmental management measures, both voluntary and compulsory, in central and eastern European countries is a key aspect of their transition.

d. It also agrees that the harmonisation of environmental legislation, which should be achieved in stages, is important to avoid unfair competition (ecological dumping) and negative impacts on economic development and environmental conditions in Europe.

e. The Committee of Ministers agrees that a major component of this harmonisation of legislation is the adoption of binding international instruments such as the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context, the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, and the Convention on Civil Liability for Damage resulting from activities dangerous to the Environment.

f. Consequently, within the context of the Parliamentary Assembly's Recommendation, awareness-raising, information and training measures could be provided for the economic sectors of countries outside the Community and especially those of central and eastern Europe. This could encourage the use of voluntary measures alongside compulsory mechanisms to help institute a system of environmental management by companies.

g. There is a significant role for a Demo Droit activity, for example in the form of a multilateral seminar aimed at the countries of central and eastern Europe and presenting examples of best practice such as voluntary environmental management measures in Europe. In this respect, the European Committee on legal co-operation (CDCJ) has proposed that such a seminar could be convened in early 1999.

h. With regard to paragraph 22.ii.a of the same Recommendation, the Committee of Ministers is of the opinion that it would be useful for European Union experts and programmes to facilitate the future inclusion of central and eastern European countries in the Community Environmental Management and Audit Schemes. The CDCJ would co-operate with the European Union in presenting these Schemes as examples of European best practice at the aforementioned seminar.

i. With regard to paragraph 22.ii.b of this Recommendation, the Committee of Ministers is of the opinion that, as the Recommendation specifically mentions the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention), it would be preferable for the Secretariat of that Convention, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, and the United Nations Environment Programme to continue their work in order to achieve optimal application of the agreement. The Committee of Ministers also acknowledges the work being undertaken by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the World Bank, the Regional Environment Centre, and the European Union in providing training in environmental assessment in central and eastern Europe. The Committee of Ministers recommends co-operating with these ongoing activities in the presentation of best practice examples of voluntary mechanisms for environmental management in Europe at the proposed multilateral seminar.