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Lord Sewel opens EU Environmental regulation summit in Edinburgh
29/01/1998
A key summit meeting on the implementation and enforcement of environmental legislation across Europe was launched today in Edinburgh by Lord Sewel, Scottish Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Minister, as part of the UK's Presidency of the European Union.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), along with the Environment Agency for England and Wales and the Environment Heritage Service for Northern Ireland, is hosting the two-day Plenary Session of the EU Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL) with the support of The Scottish Office.
Lord Sewel said:
"The body of European environmental legislation has grown enormously over the last 15 to 20 years. There are now at least 200 separate EC legislative instruments relating to the environment but to be effective these must be properly implemented and enforced.
"Implementation and enforcement of EC law will be assisted if the agencies of enforcement work in co-operation with others with similar responsibilities in other countries and this is where IMPEL comes in.
"It is important that IMPEL continues to be an independent network of professionals and that it continues to focus on those issues on which it is uniquely qualified to advise and inform the Community.
"The UK takes pride in having hosted the first meeting of IMPEL under our last Presidency of the EU in 1992 and we are very pleased at having this further opportunity during our current Presidency, especially since environment is one of the key themes."
Among the topics which will be discussed during the summit are environmental crime, relations with Central and Eastern European countries, and the minimum criteria for environmental inspections.
BACKGROUND
1. The Plenary Session of the EU network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL) is being held at The Scottish Office, Victoria Quay, on January 29 and 30.
2. IMPEL is the EU network of inspectors involved in the practical enforcement of Community environmental law. It was originally formed in 1992 during the last UK Presidency with the UK being one of the main motivating forces. Its objectives are to create the necessary impetus in the Community to make progress on ensuring a more effective application of environmental legislation. Consistently high inspection standards across Member States are essential in ensuring the full and effective implementation of Community environmental law throughout the Community and the impending enlargement of the Community makes this role particularly valuable.
News Release: 0136/98
January 29, 1998