European Environment Agency, European information and observation (amend. Regulation (EEC) No 1210/90)

PURPOSE: amendment of the Regulation establishing the European Environment Agency and the European environment and observation network in order to improve its organisation and structure. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Regulation 933/1999/EC amending Regulation 1210/90/EEC on the establishment of the European Environment Agency and the European environment information and observation network. CONTENT: The revised Regulation strengthens the tasks of the Agency. These will continue to consist in the collection and assessment of objective, reliable and comparable data on the state of the environment, making it available to the Commission and the Member States to support the implementation of environmental policies and legislation. Changes to the Agency's operation include: - the publication of the State of the Environment Report every five years rather than every three years, supported by indicators reports on specific issues; - a greater obligation on Member States to co-operate with the Agency in its data gathering and the development of increased co-operation with other international bodies and third countries' institutions. Reinforced tasks for the Agency include: ensuring the broad dissemination of environmental information to the general public, promoting to this end also the use of new telematics; supporting the Commission in the exchange of information on environmental assessment methodologies and best practices; and ensuring the diffusion of the results of rlevant environmental research. ENTRY INTO FORCE: 05.05.1999.