§ Mr. StephenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department is taking following the decision to locate the European Environment Agency in Denmark; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. YeoThe decision to site the European Environment Agency in Denmark was taken on 29 October. The regulation establishing the agency came into force on 30 October.
We have been pressing for a decision on location since the regulation to establish the agency was adopted more than three years ago. The decision means that the agency can now begin its work.
The EEA is an independent body which has been created to provide objective and reliable environmental information at the European level to help the EC and its member states formulate sound policies to protect the environment. The agency aims to achieve this through co-operation with those organisations in member states involved in environmental monitoring and research.
I am inviting all organisations which may wish to participate in the United Kingdom network, or to act as topic centres, to get in touch. To co-ordinate the network and liaise with the agency I have set up a national focus point within my Department.
The United Kingdom will, by 30 April 1994, notify the agency of the composition of its natural network and potential topic centre candidates. The network will include those organisations that regularly collect and supply environmental data within the United Kingdom.
Topic centres will undertake work on behalf of the EEA under contract and should have recognised research or technical expertise related to environmental monitoring and data analysis. Where appropriate, members of the national network can also be considered as topic centre candidates.
The United Kingdom attaches great importance to the development of the EEA. I hope that there will be considerable interest in the opportunities it offers. I would encourage all interested organisations to contact my officials for further details and a registration form as soon as possible.