Environment: Eco-management and audit scheme EMAS, voluntary participation by organisations (amend. regul. 1836/93/EEC)

The Commission accepted totally, or partially 18 of the 59 amendments proposed by the European Parliament at first reading. The Council accepted 15 of these amendments, totally, partially or in principle. In particular, the concept of "stakeholders" has been replaced throughout the text with that of "interested parties" for reasons of compatibility with ISO 14001. A definition of interested parties has been inserted into the text. The use of the EMAS logo on adverts for products, activities and services, excluded in the Commission proposal, has been retained by the Council as admissible only under circumstances to be defined by Commission guidance and provided that no confusion with environment product labels is created. The Council's changes to the amended proposal include greater emphasis on the active involvement of employees, with an explicit reference to their training. The Council has not retained the Parliament's amendments on incentives for organisations beyond the measures already provided to encourage participattion in EMAS. Nor has it retained the amendment regarding necessary structures in the candidate countries, since no special provision concerning such countries is contained in this Regulation.�