About the EU
The EU has a vast environmental law and policy-making remit. It is responsible for developing legally binding policies and Directives to ensure compliance with international treaties such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive (IPPC Directive) will be implemented by all EU countries.
The objective of the IPPC Directive is to prevent, or minimise air, water and soil pollution by emissions from industrial installations in the Community, with a view to achieving a high level of environmental protection.
Under the IPPC Directive, countries are required to report to the European Pollution Emissions Register (EPER), which includes 50 substances (or groups of substances) of environmental significance emitted to the air or water. We are responsible for reporting to the EPER and uses data gathered under the Pollution Inventory to do so.
European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register
In 2007 the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register replaced EPER.
The European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR) Regulation requires the UK's current system for collecting data on emissions through the separate national pollution inventories to be modified.
Additional EU policies
Environmental policies developed by the EU also include data-gathering programmes such as Eurostat. This incorporates statistical data from Member States and is used to monitor and comply with certain international agreements.
