Environment: implementation of the Community law, minimal criteria for inspections

The Commission's position on the amendments presented By Parliament is that none of the amendments seeking to change the form of the proposal from a recommendation to a directive can be accepted. The main reason is that, given the wide disparity in Member States' environmental inspection activities, it was desirable to ensure that minimum inspection tasks were performed as a first step. A directive would be proposed on inspections generally (minimum criteria, frequency of inspections, training etc.) in due course in the light of experience of the operations of the recommendation. There is also strong resistance from the Member States and IMPEL to a directive. With regards to amendments as to substance, three part amendments can be accepted if the proposal remains a recommendation. These include: - the European Environment Agency can advise the Member States on developing and extending their systems for monitoring environmental provisions, so that reporting may be co-ordinated. - review by the Commission of the recommendation will take into account contributions from the European Environment Agency. - in order to prevent illegal cross-border environmental practices, the Member States should encourage co-ordination of inspections and inspection services.�