§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their policy towards Environment 2010: Our Future, Our Choice, the sixth Environment Action Programme for the European Community as recently published by the European Commission; and what action they will be taking towards its implementation. [HL780]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Lord Whitty)The Government broadly welcome the European Commission's proposal for a sixth Environment Action Programme, which will set out the European Union's environmental priorities for the next 10 years. We particularly welcome its emphasis on an improved, evidence-based policy process, effective implementation and enforcement, consultation and willingness to consider alternatives to legislation. We are, though, still considering our position on the detail of the proposal.
The programme will not have direct regulatory impact and will not require transposition into UK law. Once it has been adopted under the Co-decision procedure by the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament, it will fall to the European Commission to bring forward proposals to the Council and European Parliament to implement the objectives set out in the programme.