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The EPA Network<ref>[http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu EPA Network] Network of Heads of Environment Agencies in Europe</ref> is the European Network of the Heads of Environment Protection Agencies.
The EPA Network<ref>[http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu EPA Network] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530071547/http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/ |date=2010-05-30 }} Network of Heads of Environment Agencies in Europe</ref> is the European Network of the Heads of Environment Protection Agencies.


The '''EPA Network''' is an informal grouping of the Heads and Directors of European Environmental Protection Agencies and similar bodies across Europe.
The '''EPA Network''' is an informal grouping of the Heads and Directors of European Environmental Protection Agencies and similar bodies across Europe.
The Network is a forum for the exchange of views and experiences on issues of common interest to organisations involved in the practical day-to-day implementation of environmental policy.
The Network is a forum for the exchange of views and experiences on issues of common interest to organisations involved in the practical day-to-day implementation of environmental policy.
The EPA Network was established in 2003 and consists at present of 39 organisations.
The EPA Network was established in 2003 and consists at present of 39 organisations.
The Network meets twice a year in plenary and has established a number of interest groups dealing with issues of interest to member agencies. The issues dealt with by the interest groups cover topics from better regulation to climate change adaptation. The Network has issued a number of statements on environmental policy and implementation.
The Network meets twice a year in plenary and has established a number of interest groups dealing with issues of interest to member agencies. The issues dealt with by the interest groups cover topics from better regulation to [[climate change adaptation]]. The Network has issued a number of statements on environmental policy and implementation.


*[http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/fol249409/fol249409/oslo-statement-vision-paper The Oslo Statement: Improving the Effectiveness of EU Environmental Regulation - A Future Vision ]
*[http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/fol249409/fol249409/oslo-statement-vision-paper The Oslo Statement: Improving the Effectiveness of EU Environmental Regulation - A Future Vision ]
* [http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/fol249409/fol249409/fol249409/helsinki-statement The Helsinki statement on Barriers to Better Regulation ]
* [http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/fol249409/fol249409/fol249409/helsinki-statement The Helsinki statement on Barriers to Better Regulation ]
* [http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/fol249409/fol249409/our-publications/zagreb-statement/epa_2007_17122007.pdfThe Zagreb Statement on Revision of the Construction Product Directive ] {{Dead link|date=May 2012|bot=BlevintronBot}}
* [https://archive.today/20110720161759/http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/fol249409/fol249409/our-publications/zagreb-statement/epa_2007_17122007.pdfThe Zagreb Statement on Revision of the Construction Product Directive ]
* [http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/fol249409/fol249409/fol249409/our-publications/dessau-statement-folder The Dessau statement on Sustainable Use of Natural Resources ]
* [http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/fol249409/fol249409/fol249409/our-publications/dessau-statement-folder The Dessau statement on Sustainable Use of Natural Resources ]
* [http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/fol249409/fol249409/fol249409/our-publications/prague-statement-folder The Prague statement on Better regulation]
* [http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/fol249409/fol249409/fol249409/our-publications/prague-statement-folder The Prague statement on Better regulation]


The secretariat is at present hosted by the European Environment Agency which is also a member of the EPA Network and located in Copenhagen
The secretariat is at present hosted by the European Environment Agency which is also a member of the EPA Network and is located in Copenhagen


The EPA Network cooperates on common issues with the network of European Nature Protection Agencies ENCA,<ref>[http://encanet.eu/home/ ENCA] Network of European Nature Protection Agencies</ref> as well as with other networks, such as, IMPEL<ref>[http://impel.eu/ IMPEL] the European Union Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law</ref>
The EPA Network cooperates on common issues with the network of European Nature Protection Agencies ENCA,<ref>[http://encanet.eu/home/ ENCA] Network of European Nature Protection Agencies</ref> as well as with other networks, such as, IMPEL<ref>[http://impel.eu/ IMPEL] the European Union Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law</ref>
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This should, though, not come as a surprise. Air and water pollution, acid precipitation, climate change and many other environmental problems tend to ignore national borders. Typically, they present a threat that can affect more than one country. If we want to tackle these problems successfully, it makes more sense to address them at regional, and even in some cases global, level.
This should, though, not come as a surprise. Air and water pollution, acid precipitation, climate change and many other environmental problems tend to ignore national borders. Typically, they present a threat that can affect more than one country. If we want to tackle these problems successfully, it makes more sense to address them at regional, and even in some cases global, level.
It is usually the task of Environmental Protection Agencies within individual countries, with around five exceptions where the ministries have the role, to oversee and implement these obligations and enforce national laws. However, as the legal and institutional structures differ remarkably across Europe, so too do the approaches to implementation of environmental legislation. Consequently there is a substantial variety in the roles of EPAs and what they are tasked with. The design of individual agencies is influenced by a complex interaction of factors such as:[[File:EPAs main tasks.gif|right|EPAs Main tasks]]


It is usually the task of Environmental Protection Agencies within individual countries, with around five exceptions where the ministries have the role, to oversee and implement these obligations and enforce national laws. However, as the legal and institutional structures differ remarkably across Europe, so too do the approaches to implementation of environmental legislation. Consequently there is a substantial variety in the roles of EPAs and what they are tasked with, however the main tasks are:
* Demography:
:-size of the country
:-population
:-population distribution within different regions
*Environmental conditions and areas of risk
*Prevailing social and governmental structures:
:-number of governance levels within the country
:-distribution of power to regions
:-historic role of human activities through the ages:
::-settlement
::-agriculture
::-industry
::-power utilisation
::-transport arrangements, etc.

The main tasks that EPAs deal with can be divided into two categories with three sub-categories each:


*Information and data handling, including research, monitoring, as well as information systems and assessment
*Information and data handling, including research, monitoring, as well as information systems and assessment
*Operational tasks, including: advice to ministries and citizens, enforcement of regulations and licensing
*Operational tasks, including: advice to ministries and citizens, enforcement of regulations and licensing


The EPA Network provides a forum for the heads of these agencies to exchange vies and share experiences at a strategic level.
This demonstrates clearly that, regardless of the diversity of activities across the EPAs, the main task of the majority of the agencies is data and information gathering, information handling and provision of advice. The mandate of the European Environment Agency, EEA<ref>[http://www.eea.europa.eu/ EEA] European Environment Agency</ref> is:
==References==
* To help the Community and member countries make informed decisions about improving the environment, integrating environmental considerations into economic policies and moving towards sustainability
* To coordinate the European environment information and observation network, EIONET <ref>[http://www.eionet.europa.eu/ EIONET] European Environment Information and Observation Network</ref>

Although there are a few important exceptions, enforcement of legislation and licensing do not appear to be significant tasks in many EPAs. The secretariat is located at the [http://www.eea.europa.eu/ EEA] European Environment Agency

The main fields members of EPA Network are dealing with appaears to be air, fresh water and waste

[[File:EPA's field of work.gif|thumb |right|Main field of work within EPAs]]

==Member Agencies==
{| class="wikitable"
|EEA|| [http://www.eea.europa.eu/ EEA European Environment Agency]
|-
|Albania||[http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/al Agency of Environment and Forestry AEF]
|-
|Austria||[http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/at Environment Agency Austria]
|-
|Belgium||[http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/be The Flemish Environment Agency (VMM)]
|-
|Croatia ||[http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/hr Croatian Environment Agency (CEA)]
|-
|Cyprus ||[http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/cyprus Environment Service Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Republic of Cyprus]
|-
|Czech Republic ||[http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/cz Czech Environmental Information Agency (CENIA)]
|-
| Denmark||[http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/dk Danish Environmental Protection]
|-
|Directorate for Nature Management ||[http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/no/nowegian-directorate-naturmanagement Directorate for Nature Management (DN)]
|-
|Estonia|| [http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/ee Estonian Environment Information Centre (EEIC)]
|-
| Finland || [http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/hrFinnish Environment Institute – SYKE]
|-
| Germany || [http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/de Federal Environment Agency ]
|-
| Greece || [http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/gr Greece National Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development]
|-
| Hungary ||[http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/hu Central Bureau of Water and Environment]
|-
| Iceland || [http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/is Environment Agency of Iceland]
|-
| Ireland ||[http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/ie Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)]
|-
| Italy|| [http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/it ISPRA]
|-
| Latvia || [http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/lv Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Agency (LEGMA)]
|-
| Lithuania ||[http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/li Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)]
|-
| Malta|| [http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/mt Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA)]
|-
| Netherlands|| [http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/nl Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL)]
|-
|Northern Ireland ||[http://www.ni-environment.gov.uk Northern Ireland Environment Agency]
|-
|Norway||[http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/no/norwegian-pollution-control-authority Norwegian Climate and Pollution Agency (KLIF)]
|-
| Poland || [http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/pl Chief Inspector of Environmental Protection]
|-
| Romania || [http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/ro National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA)]
|-
|Scotland ||[http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/uk/fol119205 Scottish Environment Protection Agency SEPA]
|-
| Serbia || [http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/cs Serbian Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA)]
|-
|Slovakia|| [http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/slovakia/slovakia-environmental-agency Slovak Environmental Agency (SEA)]
|-
|Slovakia || [http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/slovakia/slovakia-hyromedrological-institude Slovak Hydro meteorological Institute]
|-
|Slovenia||[http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/si Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia]
|-
|Spain||[http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/es Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs]
|-
|Sweden|| [http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/se Swedish Environmental Protection Agency]
|-
|Switzerland|| [http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/ch The Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)]
|-
|United Kingdom||[http://epanet.ew.eea.europa.eu/european_epas/countries/uk/fol022214 Environment Agency of England and Wales]
|-

|}

== References ==
<!--- See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes on how to create references using <ref></ref> tags which will then appear here automatically -->
<!--- See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes on how to create references using <ref></ref> tags which will then appear here automatically -->
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
*[http://ew.eea.europa.eu/ EnviroWindow], EEA platform for knowledge sharing and development
*[http://ew.eea.europa.eu/ EnviroWindow] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530225055/http://www.ew.eea.europa.eu/ |date=2010-05-30 }}, EEA platform for knowledge sharing and development


[[Category:Environmental organizations]]
[[Category:Environmental organizations based in Denmark]]

Latest revision as of 15:07, 19 February 2024

The EPA Network[1] is the European Network of the Heads of Environment Protection Agencies.

The EPA Network is an informal grouping of the Heads and Directors of European Environmental Protection Agencies and similar bodies across Europe. The Network is a forum for the exchange of views and experiences on issues of common interest to organisations involved in the practical day-to-day implementation of environmental policy. The EPA Network was established in 2003 and consists at present of 39 organisations. The Network meets twice a year in plenary and has established a number of interest groups dealing with issues of interest to member agencies. The issues dealt with by the interest groups cover topics from better regulation to climate change adaptation. The Network has issued a number of statements on environmental policy and implementation.


The secretariat is at present hosted by the European Environment Agency which is also a member of the EPA Network and is located in Copenhagen

The EPA Network cooperates on common issues with the network of European Nature Protection Agencies ENCA,[2] as well as with other networks, such as, IMPEL[3]

Background

[edit]

Few realize that some 70–80% of environmental legislation in the member states of the European Union and member states of the European Economic Area is actually decided and agreed at EU level.,[4] The laws developed and adopted at EU level either apply directly or are transposed into national legislation after decision by national parliaments. . This should, though, not come as a surprise. Air and water pollution, acid precipitation, climate change and many other environmental problems tend to ignore national borders. Typically, they present a threat that can affect more than one country. If we want to tackle these problems successfully, it makes more sense to address them at regional, and even in some cases global, level.

It is usually the task of Environmental Protection Agencies within individual countries, with around five exceptions where the ministries have the role, to oversee and implement these obligations and enforce national laws. However, as the legal and institutional structures differ remarkably across Europe, so too do the approaches to implementation of environmental legislation. Consequently there is a substantial variety in the roles of EPAs and what they are tasked with, however the main tasks are:

  • Information and data handling, including research, monitoring, as well as information systems and assessment
  • Operational tasks, including: advice to ministries and citizens, enforcement of regulations and licensing

The EPA Network provides a forum for the heads of these agencies to exchange vies and share experiences at a strategic level.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ EPA Network Archived 2010-05-30 at the Wayback Machine Network of Heads of Environment Agencies in Europe
  2. ^ ENCA Network of European Nature Protection Agencies
  3. ^ IMPEL the European Union Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law
  4. ^ European Commission:, 2008 The environment and the European Commission- An introduction to the Environment DG of the European Commission and to sources of information on EU environment policy
[edit]
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