The deadline for submissions on the European Commission White Paper on Environmental Liability, adopted in February, is 1 July. The paper looks at how the polluter pays principle can be applied to serve the aims of community environmental policy.
It also explores how a Community regime on environmental liability can best be shaped and concludes that the most appropriate option is a Community framework directive on Environmental Liability.
The White Paper responds to a request from the European Parliament for proposals for legislation in this field.
The White Paper says that, although ED member states have established national environmental liability regimes that cover damage to persons and goods and introduced laws to deal with liability for, and clean up of, contaminated sites, they have not really addressed the issue of liability for damage to nature.
The introduction of liability for damage to nature as proposed in the White Paper, is expected to bring about a change of attitude that should result in an increased level of prevention and precaution.
