Network of Europe’s Environment Protection Agencies€¦ · Network of Europe’s Environment Protection Agencies Laura Burke, Director General EPA Ireland ENPE Annual Conference,

Network of Europe’s Environment Protection Agencies

Laura Burke, Director General EPA IrelandENPE Annual Conference, 29 October, The Hague

About the Network

• Established in 2003• Informal• Heads of EPAs• Strategic agenda• Interest Groups set up on

specific topics• Secretariat located European

Environment Agency’s (EEA) offices in Copenhagen

Members

• 39 member organisations, 38 European countries

• Environment agencies and similar organisations, including European Environment agency (EEA)

General roles of EPAs

0,00,10,20,30,40,50,60,70,80,91,0

Environmental policy& regulation

Environmentalassessment &

reporting

Natureconservation/Wildlif

e management

Land use & spatialplanning

Hazardoussubstances

Sustainabledevelopment

Minor Medium Major

Role of EPAs in Environmental policy and Regulation

0,00,10,20,30,40,50,60,70,80,91,0

Policy advice

Regulating

Activity/FacilityPermitting

Activity/FacilityInspecting

Monitoring

Compliancepromotion &assessment

Enforcement

Env, Research(Commissioning/Coor

dinating)

EnvironmentalResearch

(Undertaking)

Emergency Response,e,g, flooding

National Legal PlanMaking

Emerging Minor Medium Major

Activities in Environmental policy and Regulation

0,00,10,20,30,40,50,60,70,80,91,0

Air qualityFresh waters

Marine waters

Coastal waters

UWWTD Regulation

Flood defence

Climate change

Emissions trading…

Energy

SoilsContaminated land

BiodiversityInvasive speciesWaste

Trans-frontier…

Resource…

Noise

Industry

Radioactive…

Environmental…

GMO Regulation

Environment &…Quarrying & Mining…

Emerging Minor Medium Major

Role of the EPA network 1/2

• Platform for frank exchange of views and experiences

• Implementation of environmental policy - level playing field

Photo: © Orhan Kartal, Sustainably Yours /EEA

Role of the EPA network 2/2

• High level link to European Commission

• Link to other European networks

Photo: © Antonio Farto, Sustainably Yours /EEA

Interest groups

Better Regulation mission

“To promote and support effective implementation of environmental policy in Europe to create a clean and healthy environment supporting a sustainable society and competitive economy in which to work and live.” Photo: © Arif Miletli, Sustainably Yours /EEA

Better Regulation objectives

• Promote the development and implementation of effective environmental regulation

• Identify political, institutional and cultural barriers to the development of better regulatory approaches and make recommendations on how these can be addressed

• Contribute to European level work to achieve more for the environment by contributing to the Commission’s work, e.g. REFIT, Circular Economy and sustainable development

• Develop a better link between policy making, evidence and regulation

Contact

• Co-chairLaura Burke, Director General EPA Ireland,

• BRIG SecretariatFranca Maugeri Todaro

• EPA Network SecretariatMari Erlandsen

• EPA Network websitePhoto: © Stephen Mynhardt, Environment & Me /EEA