ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY OF THE EU

Nejra Hodi

Sarajevo School of Science and

Technology
Course: Basics of EU politics
Instructor: Adnan Huski
Sarajevo, 20 December 2014
Word count: 2738

Contents
I.

Introduction.........................................................................................3

II. Rationale behind common environmental policy................................4

II.1 Global nature of the issue................................................................................... 4
II.2 Single market...................................................................................................... 4

III.

Developing EU environmental policy...............................................6

III.1 Legislation.......................................................................................................... 6
III.2 Implementation.................................................................................................. 7

IV.

The scope of the EU environmental policy.......................................9

V.

Conclusion....................................................................................11

VI.

References......................................................................................12

Appendix I..............................................................................................14
Appendix II.............................................................................................16

I.

Introduction

From the second half of the twentieth century and beyond, the
environment has become a weighty object of countries' policies worldwide.
The rationale is very simple industrialization that was reaching its peak
began to leave serious marks on the nature which it used to thrive on. The
fear of the possible resource exhaustion and the awareness that exploitation
must remain within the boundaries of reason translated into national policies.
Nevertheless, the process of politico-economic integration that was taking
place in the Western Europe at the time opened the possibility to the creation
of common environment policy for all members of the integrating entity rather
than separate national legislatures. More specifically, Environment Directorate
General of the European Commission ('DG Environment') was formed in 1973
to protect, preserve and improve Europe's environment for present and
future generations(European Commission Environment Basics, 2014) and
vested with powers such as policy proposition and observation of policy
implementation. Common environmental policy was only a reflection of the
integrationist path the European Community was set on from The Treaty of
Rome and the idea of an ever closer union between the peoples of Europe
(The Treaty of Rome, 1957). Although the fully-grown political union never
came about due to constitutional patriotism of the member states, it was
easier to find common grounds in environmental rather than security or
foreign policy segments. The purpose of this analysis is to explore the
particular reasons behind the establishment of environmental policy in the
European

Union,

its

development

process

and

scope

today.

The

environmental policy of the EU can be seen as one of the integrationist

arguments or commonly shared supranational values, but it is not void of
defects even as such. I conclude the essay by evaluating some of the
challenges and opening the question of its future.

II. Rationale behind EU environmental

policy
II.1 Global nature of the issue
One of the most common reasons for agreement upon the creation of
the EU environmental policy is the very nature of the issue. Environment
stands as a contrast to political world sharply divided into sovereign states
because it is inevitably interconnected. To illustrate the point - the exploitation
of woods in Russia may lead to change of climate in Turkey or the disturbance
of biodiversity in the Mediterranean Sea may reflect in food shortage in
Atlantic Ocean. Natural obstacles and potential for natural disasters generates
global or in the case of the European Union regional cooperation. This is the
similar line of thinking that stands behind the nuclear non-proliferation goal; it
endangers the whole of humanity regardless of the place of initialization.
According to the European Commission, there are concrete reasons to support
the global nature of the issue: Our behaviour makes huge demands on the
planet. During the 20th century, the world increased its use of fossil fuels by a
factor of 12 and extracted 34 times more material resources. Demand for
food, animal feed and fibre may increase by 70 % by 2050. If we carry on
using resources at the current rate, we will need more than two planets to
sustain us (2014). Nevertheless, there are global solutions implemented
through the UN or other international organizations that attempt to address
this issue. There is still lack of awareness globally that environmental issues
tackle not only health, but also survival of the mankind. Thus, so far the major
reason for creation of environmental policies in the EU lays somewhere else
and the question of how the global nature of the problem connects to regional
policy decision-making level of the EU should be asked at this point.

II.2 Single market

The need for regional cooperation upon a globally relevant issue
connects to the EU through one of the most important motives for the
4

integration economic cooperation and single market. The free movement of

goods within the common market would be affected if each EU state had
different standards for products put on sale on its market. Moussis explains
how this could happen on a specific example: The country, which laid down
more stringent standards than its neighbours, for example, on restrictions on
the noise of certain engines or on the exhaust emissions of motor vehicles,
would impede imports of related products from other countries. Protection
against pollution and noise could thus quickly deteriorate into protection
against foreign products. In other words, national environment policy could be
used to thwart the internal market in a very subtle manner (2011). On the
other hand, common environmental policy may hugely add to growth, jobs
and quality of life. Some of the ways through which these changes affect the
EU economy is creation of incentive in green technologies, resource efficiency
and energy costs. First, the drive for progress and competitive market forces
work the best in the fields that are innovative such as green technologies. The
demand for such products is increased and a whole new market branch is
opened once the environmental policy is established. Second, the shift of
focus to renewable resources makes the whole process of production more
effective and less dependent (there is less risk that the production might be
shut down because the prices of resources went up or the resource is
exhausted). Last, the energy efficiency reduces the costs and more can be
made with less. Hence, these environmental measures have a positive impact
on job creation, public health and healthcare costs, as well as energy security
(ibid). The European Commission terms such new developments and
tendencies a circular economy whereby greater resource efficiency and
turning waste into a resource creates huge job opportunities in traditional and
new sectors. It involves challenging development work to design products
that use recycled materials and can be recycled in turn. It will need engineers
and technicians to work in waste recycling, renewable energy and energy
efficiency (2014). The EU economy based on these grounds might bring
positive results in the long term, both through securing the nature from
potential disasters and by revolutionizing the market.

III. Developing EU environmental policy

III.1 Legislation
The EU has passed over 200 laws to protect the environment since the
1970s (European Commission, 2014). European environment policy is based
on Article 174 of the Treaty establishing the European Community and its
purpose is to ensure the sustainable development of the European model of
society

whether

through

corrective

measures

relating

to

specific

environmental problems or cross-cutting measures integrated within other

policy areas (Europa, n.d.). Passerelle clauses introduced by The Lisbon
Treaty allowed for usage of ordinary legislative procedure although specific
procedures have previously been laid down (ibid). According to the Treaty on
the Functioning of the EU, Article 192 the European Parliament and the
Council, acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and after
consulting the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the
Regions, shall decide what action is to be taken by the Union in order to
achieve the objectives referred to in Article 191 (See Appendix 1 for Treaty
excerpts). However, in order for the legislation to even be considered there
are two important preconditions. First, the population of the EU ought to
express interest in and approval of the policies intended to be legislated. This
is not an obligatory step, but helps ensure legitimacy and retain popular
support of the European Union's institutions. The Figure 1 illustrates the
results of the new survey, Attitudes of European citizens towards the
environment done by TNS Opinion & Social.

Attitudes of European citizens towards the environment

Environment has the impact

5% on life quality

Environment does not have the impact on life quality

95%

Figure 1. TNS Opinion & Social Report: Attitudes of European Citizens

towards the Environment (2014)

It discovered that 95% of the EU citizens think environmental issues have a

similar

impact

on

their

quality

of

life

as

the

economy

(Magazine Environment for Europeans, 2014). The implications of such public

opinion are the easement of the conditions under which the environmental
legislation is passed. Second, the ideas and drafts for future legislation are
usually drawn from big EU summits or researches performed by the
Commission. For example, the Lima Climate Change conference that took
place from 1-14 December this year revealed the discrepancy between the
EU, US and the rest of the world when they demanded strict rules for pushing
countries to meet their pledges (Godsden, 2014). Lima conference produced
very weak results and left most of the rules voluntary; this could result in
either stronger support for EU-based laws or lead to watering down of the
same legislation. On the other hand, the research based law proposals from
the Commission include currently upheld Europe 2020 Strategy a European
strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth (Europe 2020, 2014).
Commission demanded surveys of public opinion, policy efficiency and
economic development in order to create a strategy that would address all the
shortcomings of previous laws and ensure that the EU is moving in the
direction of sustainability and circular economy (See Appendix 2 for EU 2020
Strategy).

III.2 Implementation
The challenge lies in effective implementation of the legislation since it
counts for little if not properly applied and enforced. Implementation can be a
very complex process because many different tasks are performed by diverse
groups ranging from national inspectors and courts to NGOs and citizens
exercising

their

environmental

participatory

legislation,

rights

2014).

(Implementation

Commission

may

of
turn

Community
to

several

implementation mechanisms on both regional and national level. The most

serious approach is to open an infringement procedure 1 before the European
Court of Justice when particular environmental regulations are not respected
by a Member state (European Commission-Environment, 2014). The impact
here is twofold. First, the government of the state brought before the court
looses the reputation and generates a form of resentment from all other
states that make efforts to follow the environmental laws. Second, the state
may receive financial fines for repeatedly violating the environmental laws of
the European Union. Nevertheless, this form of forceful implementation is
usually the last resort of the Commission. Other methods that involve
cooperation with national governments include capacity-building, financial
support, building databases or using market mechanisms. Sometimes,
Commission suggests the creation of an independent national body 2 to handle
environment-related complaints from the public (ibid). In order for some
policies to be realizable, even market regulations may be introduced.
According to the ECs report on Environment: The market is one costeffective way to protect and improve the environment and ease pressure on
scarce resources. Taxes and subsidies can be used to act as incentives or
1 It is the Commissions responsibility under Article 17(1) of the Treaty on European
Union to ensure that both the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the
Functioning of the European Union as well as measures adopted pursuant to them
are correctly applied. The Commission is therefore often referred to as the "Guardian
of the Treaties" (Implementation of Community environmental legislation, 2014).
2 Ombudsman is needed for public feedback on particular issues, or in this case
environmental policy. This body can be very useful because some policies are more
difficult to implement and need the concrete feedback from the field in order to
become fully realized.
8

deterrents to persuade companies and consumers to opt for greener

manufacturing methods and products. Many already exist, such as fees for
cutting trees or disposing of waste (2014). Lately, the general direction
towards which the EU is going with this method is less regulation though. The
increasing trend is to create and gather data sets on causes and effects of
environmental changes from national sources in order to create a European
database suitable for analysis by European Environment Agency (ibid). The
output of this analysis is used to shape environmental policy that can easily
be implemented because there is a thorough research behind the need for it.
Ultimately, implementation may produce profit for the countries manifesting it
properly. For example, if EU waste legislation is fully applied it would generate
400 000 jobs and reduce annual net costs by EUR 72 billion (Implementing EU
Waste Legislation for Green Growth, 2011).The quality and extent of the
implementation is probably the most important segment of developing
environmental policy.

IV. The scope of the EU environmental

policy
A broad range of environmental legislation has been enacted over the past
40 years. The current 7th Environment Action Programme3, which runs until
2020, illustrates the aims that should result from the employed legislation:
"In 2050, we live well, within the planets ecological limits. Our
prosperity and healthy environment stem from an innovative,
circular economy where nothing is wasted and where natural
resources are managed sustainably, and biodiversity is protected,
valued and restored in ways that enhance our societys resilience.
Our low-carbon growth has long been decoupled from resource use,
setting the pace for a safe and sustainable global society (2014)."
EAP 2020 also identifies the methods which ought to be used when realizing
this vision. Better implementation of legislation, better information through
knowledge-based progress, more investment for environment policy and its
integration into other policies remain as the prior steps to be undertaken. The
environmental challenges have evolved over history. Each Action Plan had to
adapt to the existing realities; hence, in 1970s the EU focused on traditional
subjects such as protecting species, improving air quality and reducing water
pollution (European Commission-Environment, 2014). Today, the focus shifted
to the interconnectedness of different subjects on the global level or simply it
shifted from restoring the disrupted to preventing the very act of degradation.
EAP 2020 describes three priority areas in which the action needs to take
place. The first area concerns natural capital fertile and productive land,
fresh water, clean air and biodiversity underlying it all (7 th EAP, 2014). The EU
has already taken some legally binding moves to ensure the first area of
environmental policies realization. For example, the Water Framework
Directive, the Air Quality Directive, and the Habitats and Birds Directives have
all been enacted so far (ibid). Second area relates to the conditions that will
contribute to transformation of the EU into a resource-efficient, low-carbon
3 Adopted in Novemeber 2013, entered into force in January 2014.
10

economy. Here, a particular attention is given to turning waste into resource,

efficient use of water and environmental technologies/services development
(ibid). It is predicted that the global market for eco-industries (value of a
trillion Euros) will double over the next 10 years; therefore giving an additional
impetus to the development of second EAP 2020 policy area. The last
segment covers human health and well-being challenges including water
pollution, extortionate noise and toxic chemicals (ibid). World Health
Organization reports that almost 20% of deaths in Europe are caused by
environmental factors (Preventing disease through healthy environments,
2006). For instance, 22 300 Europeans die prematurely from coal pollution per
year (Vidal, 2013). Therefore, the EAP 2020 invests into development of a
non-toxic environment and proposes to address risks associated with the use
of chemicals in products and chemical mixtures (7th EAP, 2014). Although the
European Union has some of the highest world standards when the
environment is concerened, there is still a lot to achieve. The scope of the
environmental policy may again be governed by the circumstances of future
but it will inevitably be influenced by the successes or failures of the current
Environment Action Plan fouced around three described areas.

11

12

V. Conclusion
Despite the EU environmental policy being one of the successful efforts EU
leadership engaged into, it faces many obstacles on the way to transform the
future of the community. Some of the most acute ones are the instability in
the EU financial market, uncertainties over economic and job prospects and
struggle to keep austerity regimes (Institute for European Environmental
Policy, 2012). These currents led Member states to question their very
membership in the union and not least the policies with common presage.
Although the past couple of years in the EU affairs have been increasingly
preoccupied with the issue of more or less regulation, this has not directly
reflected on the environmental policy. The possibility that the changes in the
economic structure or level of political cooperation within the Union will more
directly shape the soft policy area still remains open. On the other hand,
the urgent environmental challenges such as increasing climate change
threats, air and water pollution as well as exhaustion of oil resources will call
for more united environmental policies globally and on the level of the EU.
Thus, even in a time of economic struggle and political turnovers, the
environmental concern should become a headstone for future of the EU
economy.

13

VI. References
European Commission, 2014. A healthy and sustainable environment for present and
future generations. [online] European Union Publication's Office. Available at:
http://europa.eu/pol/pdf/flipbook/en/environment_en.pdf [Accessed 10 December
2014].
European Commission, 2014. Communication from the Commission - Europe 2020.
[online] Available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/news/efe/articles/2014/05/article_20140521_01_en.
htm [Accessed 20 December 2014].
European Union, 2010. Consolidated Version of the Treaty on European Union and
the Treaty on the functioning of the European Union. Official Journal of the European
Union. [online] Vol. 2010 C (83/1), Available through: Access to European Union law
website <http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?
uri=uriserv:OJ.C_.2010.083.01.0001.01.ENG#text> [Accessed 15 December 2014].
European Commission, 2014. Environment Action Programme to 2020 [online]
Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/newprg/index.htm [Accessed 20
December 2014].
European Commission, 2014. Environment Basics. [online] (22 August 2014).
Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/basics/home_en.htm [Accessed 10
December 2014].
European Commission, 2014. Green week 2014: jobs and the circulr economy.
[online] (21 May 2014). Available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/news/efe/articles/2014/05/article_20140521_01_en.
htm [Accessed 10 December 2014].
European Commission, 2014. Implementation of Community environmental
legislation [online] Available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/legal/implementation_en.htm [Accessed 20
December 2014].
European Commission, 2011. Implementing EU Waste legislation for Green Growth
[online] Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/studies/pdf/study
%2012%20FINAL%20REPORT.pdf [Accessed 20 December 2014].
European Commission, 2014. 7th EAP The new general Union Environment Action
Programme to 2020 [online] Available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/pubs/pdf/factsheets/7eap/en.pdf [Accessed 20
December 2014].

14

European Community, 1957. Treaty of Rome. [online] European Union Publication's

Office. Available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/archives/emu_history/documents/treaties/rometreaty2.pdf
[Accessed 10 December 2014].
Godsen, E., 2014. Lima climate change summit: 'weak' UN deal could let countries
dodge green pledges. The Telegraph, [online] 14 December. Available at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/environment/climatechange/11292872/Limaclimate-change-summit-weak-UN-deal-could-let-countries-dodge-green-pledges.html
[Accessed 20 December 2014].
Institute for European Environmental Policy, 2012. The future of EU environmental
policy: challenges & opportunities [online] Available at:
http://www.ieep.eu/assets/872/EU_Policy_Report_-_Executive_summary.pdf [Accessed
20 December 2014].
Moussis, N., 2013. Access to the European Union. 20th edition. Plymouth: Intersentia.
Prss-stn, A. & Corvaln C, 2006. Preventing Disease through Healthy
Environments [online] Available at:
http://www.who.int/quantifying_ehimpacts/publications/preventingdiseasebegin.pdf
[Accessed 20 December 2014].
TNS Opinion & Social, 2014. Attitudes of European citizens towards the environment.
[online] European Union Publication's Office. Available
at:http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_416_en.pdf [Accessed 10
December 2014].
UN Conference Lima. 2014. Lima Call for Climate Action Puts World on Track to Paris
2015. [online] Available at: http://newsroom.unfccc.int/lima/lima-call-for-climateaction-puts-world-on-track-to-paris-2015/ [Accessed 20 December 2014].
Vidal, 2013. European coal pollution causes 22,300 premature deaths a year. The
Guardian, [online] 12 June. Available at:
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/jun/12/european-coal-pollutionpremature-deaths [Accessed 20 December 2014].

15

Appendix I
EXCERPTS FROM THE TREATY ON THE FUNCTIONING OF THE EU:
Article 191
(ex Article 174 TEC)
1. Union policy on the environment shall contribute to pursuit of the following
objectives:
preserving, protecting and improving the quality of the environment,

protecting human health,

prudent and rational utilisation of natural resources,

promoting measures at international level to deal with regional or worldwide

environmental problems, and in particular combating climate change.
2. Union policy on the environment shall aim at a high level of protection taking into
account the diversity of situations in the various regions of the Union. It shall be
based on the precautionary principle and on the principles that preventive action
should be taken, that environmental damage should as a priority be rectified at
source and that the polluter should pay.
In this context, harmonisation measures answering environmental protection
requirements shall include, where appropriate, a safeguard clause allowing Member
States to take provisional measures, for non-economic environmental reasons,
subject to a procedure of inspection by the Union.
3. In preparing its policy on the environment, the Union shall take account of:

available scientific and technical data,

environmental conditions in the various regions of the Union,

the potential benefits and costs of action or lack of action,

the economic and social development of the Union as a whole and the balanced
development of its regions.
4. Within their respective spheres of competence, the Union and the Member States
shall cooperate with third countries and with the competent international
organisations. The arrangements for Union cooperation may be the subject of
agreements between the Union and the third parties concerned.

16

The previous subparagraph shall be without prejudice to Member States competence

to negotiate in international bodies and to conclude international agreements.

Article 192
(ex Article 175 TEC)
1. The European Parliament and the Council, acting in accordance with the ordinary
legislative procedure and after consulting the Economic and Social Committee and
the Committee of the Regions, shall decide what action is to be taken by the Union in
order to achieve the objectives referred to in Article 191.
2. By way of derogation from the decision-making procedure provided for in
paragraph 1 and without prejudice to Article 114, the Council acting unanimously in
accordance with a special legislative procedure and after consulting the European
Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions,
shall adopt:
(a)

provisions primarily of a fiscal nature;

(b measures affecting:
)

town and country planning,

quantitative management of water resources or affecting, directly or
indirectly, the availability of those resources,

land use, with the exception of waste management;

(c measures significantly affecting a Member States choice between different

) energy sources and the general structure of its energy supply.
The Council, acting unanimously on a proposal from the Commission and after
consulting the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the
Committee of the Regions, may make the ordinary legislative procedure applicable to
the matters referred to in the first subparagraph.
3. General action programmes setting out priority objectives to be attained shall be
adopted by the European Parliament and the Council, acting in accordance with the
ordinary legislative procedure and after consulting the Economic and Social
Committee and the Committee of the Regions.
The measures necessary for the implementation of these programmes shall be
adopted under the terms of paragraph 1 or 2, as the case may be.
4. Without prejudice to certain measures adopted by the Union, the Member States
shall finance and implement the environment policy.

17

5. Without prejudice to the principle that the polluter should pay, if a measure based
on the provisions of paragraph 1 involves costs deemed disproportionate for the
public authorities of a Member State, such measure shall lay down appropriate
provisions in the form of:

temporary derogations, and/or

financial support from the Cohesion Fund set up pursuant to Article 177.

Appendix II
EUROPE 2020 STRATEGY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Europe faces a moment of transformation. The crisis has wiped out years of
economic and social progress and exposed structural weaknesses in Europe's
economy. In the meantime, the world is moving fast and long-term challenges
globalisation, pressure on resources, ageing intensify. The EU must now
take charge of its future. Europe can succeed if it acts collectively, as a Union.
We need a strategy to help us come out stronger from the crisis and turn the
EU into a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy
delivering high levels of employment, productivity and social cohesion. Europe
2020 sets out a vision of Europe's social market economy for the 21st century.
Europe 2020 puts forward three mutually reinforcing priorities:

Smart growth: developing an economy based on knowledge and

innovation.
Sustainable growth: promoting a more resource efficient, greener and

more competitive economy.

Inclusive growth: fostering a high-employment economy delivering
social and territorial cohesion.

The EU needs to define where it wants to be by 2020. To this end, the

Commission proposes the following EU headline targets:

75 % of the population aged 20-64 should be employed.

3% of the EU's GDP should be invested in R&D.

18

The "20/20/20" climate/energy targets should be met (including an

increase to 30% of emissions reduction if the conditions are right).

The share of early school leavers should be under 10% and at least

40% of the younger generation should have a tertiary degree.

20 million less people should be at risk of poverty.

These targets are interrelated and critical to our overall success. To ensure
that each Member State tailors the Europe 2020 strategy to its particular
situation, the Commission proposes that EU goals are translated into national
targets and trajectories.
The targets are representative of the three priorities of smart, sustainable and
inclusive growth but they are not exhaustive: a wide range of actions at
national, EU and international levels will be necessary to underpin them. The
Commission is putting forward seven flagship initiatives to catalyse progress
under each priority theme:

"Innovation Union" to improve framework conditions and access to

finance for research and innovation so as to ensure that innovative
ideas can be turned into products and services that create growth and

jobs.
"Youth on the move" to enhance the performance of education systems

and to facilitate the entry of young people to the labour market. EN 6 EN

"A digital agenda for Europe" to speed up the roll-out of high-speed
internet and reap the benefits of a digital single market for households

and firms.
"Resource efficient Europe" to help decouple economic growth from the
use of resources, support the shift towards a low carbon economy,
increase the use of renewable energy sources, modernise our transport

sector and promote energy efficiency.

"An industrial policy for the globalisation era" to improve the business
environment, notably for SMEs, and to support the development of a

strong and sustainable industrial base able to compete globally.

"An agenda for new skills and jobs" to modernise labour markets and
empower people by developing their of skills throughout the lifecycle
with a view to increase labour participation and better match labour
supply and demand, including through labour mobility.

19

"European platform against poverty" to ensure social and territorial

cohesion such that the benefits of growth and jobs are widely shared
and people experiencing poverty and social exclusion are enabled to
live in dignity and take an active part in society.

These seven flagship initiatives will commit both the EU and the Member
States. EU-level instruments, notably the single market, financial levers and
external policy tools, will be fully mobilised to tackle bottlenecks and deliver
the Europe 2020 goals. As an immediate priority, the Commission charts what
needs to be done to define a credible exit strategy, to pursue the reform of
the financial system, to ensure budgetary consolidation for long-term growth,
and to strengthen coordination within the Economic and Monetary Union.
Stronger economic governance will be required to deliver results. Europe 2020
will rely on two pillars: the thematic approach outlined above, combining
priorities and headline targets; and country reporting, helping Member States
to develop their strategies to return to sustainable growth and public finances.
Integrated guidelines will be adopted at EU level to cover the scope of EU
priorities and targets. Country-specific recommendations will be addressed to
Member States. Policy warnings could be issued in case of inadequate
response.
The reporting of Europe 2020 and the Stability and Growth Pact evaluation will
be done
simultaneously, while keeping the instruments separate and maintaining the
integrity of the Pact. The European Council will have full ownership and be the
focal point of the new strategy. The Commission will monitor progress towards
the targets, facilitate policy exchange and make the necessary proposals to
steer action and advance the EU flagship initiatives. The European Parliament
will be a driving force to mobilise citizens and act as co-legislator on key
initiatives. This partnership approach should extend to EU committees, to
national parliaments and national, local and regional authorities, to social
partners and to stakeholders and civil society so that everyone is involved in
20

delivering on the vision. The Commission proposes that the European Council
endorses - in March - the overall approach of the strategy and the EU headline
targets, and approves - in June - the detailed parameters of the strategy,
including the integrated guidelines and national targets. The Commission also
looks forward to the views and support of the European Parliament for making
Europe 2020 a success.

21