Overview
IEEP has a long track record of analysing the design and implementation of water, marine and fisheries legislation in the EU, such as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), and the Water Framework Directive (WFD) along with its many ‘supporting’ directives.
IEEP has been working on the evolution of EU and international marine and fisheries policy for almost two decades, including the establishment, implementation and funding of marine protected areas, policies and instruments to tackle marine litter pollution and fisheries governance.
Highly influential projects carried out by IEEP have helped shape the design, implementation and evaluation of EU water policy, such as the Water Blueprint, the Fitness Check and the Common Implementation Strategy of the Water Framework Directive, and the Blue 2 study on supporting policy-making on freshwater and the marine environment.
Regarding work in this area, please contact Andrew Farmer.
Highlights
The Port Reception Facilities Directive requires ships to discharge their waste to dedicated port reception facilities in the EU, but illegal discharges at sea of ship generated waste still take place. This report recommends ways to improve the Directive.
Can sustainable management of natural resources in Europe’s agricultural sector contribute to sustainable water use? What other sectors have a role to play in significantly improving water use across Europe and what are the good practices and tools that are available? A new report for the European Parliament explores these questions.
This report considers how environmental policy in the EU effects the UK and looks at some alternatives. Overall the impact within the environmental domain can be judged to be strongly positive to the UK. The action taken has been well balanced, with benefits for human health and welfare and the sustainability of the economy as well as the environment itself.
The latest edition of IEEP's quarterly newsletter is now available. Read how IEEP continues to push forward the future of biofuels policy, plus reactions to the latest CAP agreements, and much more…
This study shows how more can be done to firstly avoid and minimize detrimental impacts of EU funding on biodiversity, and secondly to increase biodiversity benefits.
This new IEEP-led report presents insights on the importance of wetlands in delivering ecosystem services that are needed to support human life, and also for people’s livelihoods and the world’s economies. The report shows that demonstrating and using the values of ecosystem services related to water and wetlands can lead to better informed, more cost-effective, and fairer decision- making.
This new IEEP-led report presents insights on the importance of wetlands in delivering ecosystem services that are needed to support human life, and also for people’s livelihoods and the world’s economies. The report shows that demonstrating and using the values of ecosystem services related to water and wetlands can lead to better informed, more cost-effective, and fairer decision- making.
The Water Blueprint proposes action to address 12 key problems for Europe’s waters. An IEEP led study found that improved guidance, information system, data exchange and funding were the best instruments to address many of these problems, with limited scope for new law.
The Water Blueprint proposes action to address 12 key problems for Europe’s waters. An IEEP led study found that improved guidance, information system, data exchange and funding were the best instruments to address many of these problems, with limited scope for new law.
This new IEEP-authored report highlighting the importance of nature to the economy aims to clarify and help mainstream nature’s role in the transition to a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication.
The latest edition of IEEP's newsletter is now available with a lead article on efforts to reinvigorate EU water policy. Plus CAP reform, nature in the Green Economy, using straw for biofuels, emissions trading revenues ...
Despite some new commitments on Green Economy, oceans, and Sustainable Development Goals, progress on much of the Rio agenda will depend on actions taken by individual countries, blocs (like the EU), companies and civil society networks.
New TEEB study announced at Rio+20 to highlight how conservation and restoration of wetlands can benefit biodiversity and provide cost-effective and sustainable solutions in the context of a Green Economy.
IEEP’s evidence to the House of Lords EU Committee explores the future of EU water policy and the challenges it faces
Water scarcity is a major threat to Europe’s waters. Three briefings have been produced summarizing research on this issue and setting out the European policy context.
IEEP provided support to the Commission’s development of the Fitness Check through the organisation of an online public consultation and a stakeholder workshop. The results of these two activities can be downloaded here.
“Urgent action is needed now to avoid significant costs of inaction, both in economic and human terms”. The OECD provides a clear message in its recent Environment Outlook to 2050: Act now – or face major and potentially disastrous consequences.
This IEEP-led study for the European Commission (DG ENV) improves the knowledge base on green infrastructure policy initiatives in Europe and assesses their implementation and efficiency. It also formulates policy recommendations for integrating green infrastructure into the EU policy framework.
The Marine Strategy Framework Directive requires Member States to apply an “ecosystem approach to marine management”. This report defines the ecosystem approach and puts it into context by describing the challenges of applying it across Europe’s seas.
The latest edition of IEEP's newsletter is now available with articles on the new EU Treaty, the impacts of biofuels on biodiversity, benefits of Natura 2000, and much more...
