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Our Work

The environmental governance team covers strategic questions and examines the mechanics and processes behind the formulation and implementation of environmental policies. Our work is spread across a wide, often cross-cutting, range of issues. Key tasks include monitoring current developments in EU environmental policy, including the role of the budget, assessing environmental policy integration and policy coherence, conducting impact assessment and policy evaluation studies, evaluating policy implementation and enforcement, and looking at the global dimension of European environmental policy.

At its founding in 1957, the then European Economic Community (EEC) did not have an environmental dimension. Today the EU has some of the most progressive environmental policies in the world. EU legislation has played a vital role in improving habitat and species protection and river management, and has contributed to dramatic improvements in air and water quality and waste management. Although significant challenges remain, it is widely acknowledged that EU policy has successfully reduced a number of pressures on the environment and stimulated investment in more sustainable economic growth.

The EU has developed a ‘tool box’ of policy instruments, approaches and strategies with which to pursue its environmental objectives. It has also adopted a number of cross-cutting strategies and approaches to policy making to provide the overarching context for environmental decision-making. These are seen to be increasingly significant to the environmental debate in Europe.

Over the years the EU has taken on a growing leadership role in the global context.

More about our work in this area...

Latest in Governance

Practical options for climate change mainstreaming in the 2014-2020 EU budget

On 1 February 2012, IEEP organised a policy dialogue workshop on ‘Practical options for climate change mainstreaming in the 2014-2020 EU budget’.
EU Budget Reform: Pathways to Greening the Future EU Cohesion Policy

IEEP in cooperation with the Institute for European Studies at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel held an environmental policy forum on the 6th of February dedicated to the reform of the 2014-2020 EU Cohesion Policy.
Winter Newsletter published

The latest edition of IEEP's newsletter is now available with articles on the new EU Treaty, the impacts of biofuels on biodiversity, benefits of Natura 2000, and much more...
EU Budget Reform: Pathways to greening the future EU Cohesion Policy

IEEP in cooperation with the Institute for European Studies at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, kindly invites you to attend the upcoming environmental policy forum on the 6th of February dedicated to the reform of the 2014-2020 EU Cohesion Policy.
Practical options for climate change mainstreaming in the EU budget

IEEP is carrying out a project which aim is to explore options and tools for the mainstreaming of climate change in the 2014-2020 EU Cohesion Policy and Connecting Europe Facility. This will be the topic of a policy dialogue workshop organised by IEEP on 1 February 2012.
The future of EU environmental policy: challenges & opportunities

IEEP has produced a special report for the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPEG) on ‘The future of EU environmental policy: challenges and opportunities’. The report provides a brief review of key environmental challenges facing the EU, the main policy and strategic discussions currently underway and assesses some of the prospects and challenges for the future.
IEEP report launched in the House of Commons

A new IEEP report on ‘The future of EU environmental policy: challenges and opportunities’ is launched on 24 January.
Exploring the potential of new financial instruments for climate change

IEEP report on the role of new financial instruments in mobilising private investment for climate change action in the EU
Mobilising Private Investment for Climate Action in the EU

IEEP report on the role of new financial instruments in mobilising private investment for climate change action in the EU.
Towards a 7th Environment Action Programme: potential options and priorities

As a contribution to the on-going discussion on the future strategic framework of EU environmental policy, IEEP has produced a policy paper on the options and priorities for a 7th Environment Action Programme (7EAP).
On the road to Rio: European scientific community voices support for greener Green Economy

Helsinki, 12-14 October. European and North-American scientific and technological community agree on their message for Rio+20, emphasising role of natural capital in underpinning Green Economy and echoing key messages from TEEB.
The New Comitology Rules - Delegated and implementing acts

The Lisbon Treaty substantially modified the framework for the Commission’s implementing powers, commonly known as ‘comitology’. This IEEP report explains the new procedures and gives examples of how they might, or will, apply in the EU biodiversity policy area.
Sourcebook on EU Environmental Law

The Sourcebook provides a practical reference document on applicable EU environmental legislation, practices and standards which need to be taken into account in the planning and development of projects supported by Banks that have signed the ‘European Principles for the Environment'.
SEA: Making an Impact? – 10 year conference on Implementation and Practice

IEEP’s Peter Hjerp presented at the special conference on Strategic Environmental Assessment in Prague on 21-23 September 2011, organized by the International Association for Impact Assessment, DG Environment and United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
Mainstreaming the environment and climate change in the post-2013 EU budget

New IEEP paper examines the opportunities and challenges of the proposed ‘mainstreaming’ of climate change and other environmental priorities in the 2014-2020 EU budget.
2014-2020 EU Multi-annual Financial Framework: Opportunities and Challenges for Climate Change and the Environment

This presentation analyses the Commission proposals on the 2014-2020 Multi-annual Financial Framework unveiled on 29 June 2011. More specifically, it identifies opportunities and challenges for the financing of climate change and the environment in the future EU budget.
Commission sets out proposals for post-2013 EU budget

IEEP provides an environmental perspective on the European Commission’s EU budget proposals for the 2014-2020 period.
EU budget post 2013 – IEEP Pre-briefings

The European Commission is due to publish its budget proposals for post 2013 period. IEEP has identified key issues that the ‘greenness’ of the proposals could be judged by.
The EU on the road to Rio+20: towards a sustainable outcome?

IEEP and the Institute for European Studies (IES) is pleased to invite you to an Environmental Policy Forum on ‘The EU on the road to Rio+20: towards a sustainable outcome?’ which will be held on 23 June 2011 in Brussels.
When Financial Needs Meet Political Realities: Implications for Climate Change in the Post-2013 EU Budget

This paper is the first in a series being produced as part of a policy dialogue platform on the post-2013 EU budget and associated EU funding instruments such as Cohesion Policy.

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Highlights

Strategies and Instruments for Climate Proofing the EU Budget

This report advances the conceptual understanding of the concept of climate proofing the EU budget and offers ways to operationalise it in the debate on the post-2013 Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF).
Greening the EU Budget - what are the issues?

In the run up to the legislative proposals on the post-2013 EU Multiannual Financial Framework due in June 2011, this Policy Brief offers a short analysis of some critical aspects of the debate and outlines a set of ‘stepping stones’ for strengthening the environmental dimension of the proposals.