IMPEL

1
IMPEL
European Union Network for the Implementation
and Enforcement of Environmental Law
2
WHY IMPEL?

• To contribute towards an effective and even
  implementation of environmental law
• To identify and promote good practice in
  compliance and enforcement
• To avoid distortions of competition within the
  European Union

3
HISTORY OF IMPEL
1991 NETHERLANDS EU PRESIDENCY - INFORMAL
COUNCIL 1992 UK EU PRESIDENCY - CHESTER -
START SUBSEQUENT MS PRESIDENCIES - IMPEL
NETWORK 1996 EC COMMUNICATION ON IMPLEMENTING
COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF AND ROLE FOR IMPEL 1997
COUNCIL OF MINISTERS/EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RECOGNI
TION OF IMPEL IN THE COUNCIL RESOLUTION 2001
RECOMMENDATION ON MINIMUM CRITERIA AND 6th
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PROGRAMME
4
How IMPEL Functions

• Projects managed by Member States
• Projects agreed at twice yearly IMPEL Meetings
• IMPEL Meetings decide overall strategy

5

• Multi-Annual Work Programme
• Framework for future activities
• Based on Recommendation on Minimum Criteria and
  6th EAP

6
AC-IMPEL
Members are the 12 candidate countries for
membership of the European Union
7
IMPEL - AN ASSESSMENT
An expensive network - is it worthwhile?
8
IMPEL web site http//europa.eu.int/comm/environm
ent/impel