Legislative Observatory
European Parliament
Please fill in this field to find a procedure

European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register

2004/0231(COD)

This report from the Commission on progress in implementing Regulation (EC) 166/2006 concerning the establishment of a European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR) reviews the Member States' emission reports submitted through the E-PRTR and, more generally, provides an assessment of experience gained during the first three years of operating the register.

The main conclusions of the report are the following:

  • knowledge base: an integrated and coherent E-PRTR is an important tool to increase the knowledge base for a cost-efficient and transparent management of air, water, and land resources;
  • transparency: the establishment of the E-PRTR has been an important step forward in ensuring greater transparency on the types and quantities of industrial emissions and environmental monitoring. The E-PRTR comprises a unique dataset covering a wide variety of pollutants, addressing releases and transfers to all media and based on a bottom-up approach; and
  • a reasonable success story: the assessment of the Commission of the implementation of the Regulation demonstrates a reasonable success story. Member States came to terms with the new obligations in an expeditious manner to the point where data collection, assessment and submission to the Commission is now completed for most releases in a reliable fashion.

However, there remains a need and potential for further improvements. This report contains actions that will help address some of the most important issues identified during the review and take the E-PRTR forward in a way that will further improve its usability and encourage wider use of the important environmental information contained therein. These actions include: (i) enhancing the quality of data and user confidence; (ii) improving data use and exchange; and (iii) further examination of the legal basis of the E-PRTR and links with other legislation.

Those actions will be pursued following an appropriate degree of prioritisation in order to effectively target those actions of greatest potential benefit.