The European Citizens’ Initiative “Establishment of a European Office for the Promotion of the European Union. environment”

The European Commission has decided to register four European citizens’ initiatives, among which is an initiative called “Creation of a European Environment Authority.” Its goal, as stated by the organizers, is for the EC to establish a European office for the development of the European Union. Environment, which will be established either in place of the European Environment Agency or as a new body.

European citizens’ initiative – mechanism

The European Citizens’ Initiative was introduced by the Lisbon Treaty as a mechanism by which citizens can shape policy. It was officially introduced in April 2012. The formal registration of a European Citizens’ Initiative opens a procedure whereby one million citizens from at least seven EU member states can ask the European Commission to submit legislative proposals in areas where it has authority. Since the launch of the European Citizens’ Initiative, the Commission has registered 107 projects.

The European Citizens’ Initiative “Establishment of a European Office for the Promotion of the European Union. environment”

European Food Safety Authority. The environment would be an independent, central, EU protection body, in addition to having legal personality. In order for the internal market to function effectively, it would take administrative decisions – together with member states’ national environmental authorities – that are binding on member states, individuals and legal entities (i.e., companies whose registered office or owner is in the EU or a third country) in situations where agricultural, industrial or service activities – at any stage, including waste management and recycling – would have an environmental impact that goes beyond the borders of that country and concerns the EU.

European Food Safety Authority. The Environment Council would approve and supervise activities affecting the environment and take action in the event of pollution in the EU. In the latter case, the authority would punish the guilty party by banning the polluting activity, ordering restoration or imposing sanctions proportional to the magnitude of the offense, according to the “polluter pays” principle.

The scope of activities of the proposed office for the environments

The European Citizens’ Initiative called “Establishment of a European Office for the Promotion of the European Union. The “environment” also points to examples where the proposed European authority could take action. These include:

1. Transboundary air pollution: due to the action of wind, harmful substances emitted in one EU member state may affect air quality in another. For example, industrial emissions or pollution from transportation in one can cause smog or acid rain in neighboring ones.
2. Water pollution: pollution can affect several member states that connect transboundary rivers or lakes, as water runoff from agricultural areas and wastewater treatment plants or industrial emissions affect the environmental status of downstream countries.
3. Marine pollution: marine pollution can harm all coastal member states. Ship emissions, oil spills and illegal waste dumping can lead to pollution of several countries’ coastal waters.
4. Soil contamination: the cross-border transport of harmful substances such as chemicals or wastes involves the risk of soil contamination in the event of an accident or improper handling, which can affect the quality of the soil and agriculture of the Member State where the accident takes place.
5. Noise pollution: noise pollution from airports, highways and industrial plants near borders can affect the quality of life and health of neighboring residents.
6. Transboundary waste management: improper disposal of waste, including hazardous waste, in one member state can have a transboundary environmental impact if the waste, unlawfully, ends up abroad or contaminates groundwater.
7. Climate change: differences in greenhouse gas emissions between EU member states can cause differences in climate change impacts. Countries with higher levels of emissions may be contributing to global warming, which affects all member states through climate change, rising sea and ocean levels and other factors.

When is the European Citizens’ Initiative likely to be adopted by the EC?

As such, the proposed initiative is not clearly abusive or frivolous or vexatious, nor does it clearly contradict the Union’s values as set forth in Art. 2 of the Treaty on European Union nor with the rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, the EC has decided to register the initiative “Establishment of a European Office for Gender Equality”. Environment.” From the moment the initiative is registered, its organizers have six months to start collecting signatures. If it is supported by one million people from at least seven member states within a year, the EC will have to address the proposal on the table. In response to the request, it will have to decide on further action and provide reasons for its decision.