Directorate-General for the Environment (European Commission)
Encyclopedia
The Directorate-General for the Environment (DG Environment) is a Directorate-General
of the European Commission
, responsible for the European Union
policy area of the environment.
In February 2010, departments relating to climate change from the environment, industry and external relations DG was split off to form the DG Climate Action.
and to ensure that measures, which have been agreed, are actually put into practice in the Member States. The overall mission statement for 2005 is: "Protecting, preserving and improving the environment for present and future generations, and promoting sustainable development". The mission statement is divided into the following sub-statements http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/environment/pdf/information_brochure_en.pdf:
Past commissioners:
with the unit dealing with radiation protection based in Luxembourg
.
The Directorate-General is organised into an Office of the Director-General and 7 directorates:
Directorate-General
A Directorate-General is a branch of an administration dedicated to a specific field of expertise.* The European Commission: Commission Directorates-General are each headed by a European Commissioner;* The European Patent Office: EPO Directorates-General;...
of the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
, responsible for the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
policy area of the environment.
In February 2010, departments relating to climate change from the environment, industry and external relations DG was split off to form the DG Climate Action.
Mission
The DGs main role is to initiate and define new environmental legislationand to ensure that measures, which have been agreed, are actually put into practice in the Member States. The overall mission statement for 2005 is: "Protecting, preserving and improving the environment for present and future generations, and promoting sustainable development". The mission statement is divided into the following sub-statements http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/environment/pdf/information_brochure_en.pdf:
- To maintain and improve the quality of life through a high level of protection of our natural resourcesNatural ResourcesNatural Resources is a soul album released by Motown girl group Martha Reeves and the Vandellas in 1970 on the Gordy label. The album is significant for the Vietnam War ballad "I Should Be Proud" and the slow jam, "Love Guess Who"...
, effective risk assessmentRisk assessmentRisk assessment is a step in a risk management procedure. Risk assessment is the determination of quantitative or qualitative value of risk related to a concrete situation and a recognized threat...
and management and the timely implementation of Community legislationEuropean Union lawEuropean Union law is a body of treaties and legislation, such as Regulations and Directives, which have direct effect or indirect effect on the laws of European Union member states. The three sources of European Union law are primary law, secondary law and supplementary law...
. - To foster resource-efficiency in production, consumption and waste-disposal measures.
- To integrate environmental concerns into other EU policy areas.
- To promote growth in the EU that takes account of the economic, social and environmental needs both of our citizens and of future generations.
- To address the global challenges facing us notably combating climate changeClimate changeClimate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
and the international conservation of biodiversityBiodiversityBiodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
. - To ensure that all policies and measures in the above areas are based on a multi-sectoral approach, involve all stakeholders in the process and are communicated in an effective way.
Resources
The Directorate-General for Environment has a staff of about 650 civil servants.- Commissioner: Janez PotočnikJanez PotocnikJanez Potočnik is a Slovenian politician, currently serving as European Commissioner for Environment. He was formerly the Slovenia's Minister for European Affairs....
- Director General: Karl Falkenberg
Past commissioners:
- Prodi CommissionProdi CommissionThe Prodi Commission was the European Commission in office between 1999 and 2004. The administration was led by former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi.-History:...
, Margot WallstromMargot WallströmMargot Elisabeth Wallström is a Swedish social democratic, currently holding the job as . Prior to this post, she served as European Commissioner for Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy...
, 1999–2004
Structure
The Environment DG is based largely in BrusselsBrussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
with the unit dealing with radiation protection based in Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
.
The Directorate-General is organised into an Office of the Director-General and 7 directorates:
- Directorate A: Legal Affairs & Cohesion
- Directorate B: Nature
- Directorate C: Industry
- Directorate D: Water, Chemicals & Biotechnology
- Directorate E: International affairs
- Directorate F: Strategy
- Shared Resources Directorate (SRD) (shared with DG Climate Action)
See also
- Aarhus ConventionAarhus ConventionThe UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters, usually known as the Aarhus Convention, was signed on June 25, 1998 in the Danish city of Aarhus. It entered into force on 30 October 2001...
- Directorate-General of the Joint Research Centre (DG JRC)
- European Environment AgencyEuropean Environment AgencyEuropean Environment Agency is an agency of the European Union. Its task is to provide sound, independent information on the environment. It is a major information source for those involved in developing, adopting, implementing and evaluating environmental policy, and also the general public...