The environment is one of the key policy areas in which the EU plays a role - environmental action by the Community began in 1972, and today there are over 700 individual pieces of EU environmental legislation in force. Such legislation affects Member States at the national, regional and local levels, and for this reason, the Brussels Office monitors developments in these areas.

The main environmental issues dealt with by the EU include climate change, air, land and water, waste, nature protection and biodiversity, industry and product policy, biotechnology and chemicals, and civil protection and radiation protection.

The LIFE+ Programme is the main EU funding programme for environmental projects. It runs from 2007-2013 and funds projects under three strands:

• Nature and Biodiversity
• Environment Policy and Governance
• Information and Communication

For further policy details and legislative developments in this area please click here. Access to this information is password protected. Please enter your password in the space provided on the right. If you do not have a password and would like one please click here to request one.