Abstract
The paper describes the different development of consumer and environmental policy at Community level, since 1972. It points out that consumers, today, are better off than 20 years ago, while the environment is worse off. One of the main features of the evolution is that consumer policy asks for better value for money, whereas environmental policy is concerned with consumption, limits to growth, concern for tomorrow, global problems, future generations etc. National and Community administrative infrastructure has developed differently over the past twenty years. So has public awareness towards environmental and consumer issues. Consumer interest in environmental matters is limited, though problems in water, air and soil pollution, nature protection, and waste management would need consumers’ interest. The paper denounces the limitation of consumer policy to consuming questions and the absence of interest in consumption problems.
A great delight is granted When, in the spirit of the ages planted, We mark how, ere our time, a sage has thought, And then, how far his work, and grandly, we have brought.
Goethe: Faust
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Notes
O.J. 1993, C 162, p. 1.
Article 130 s (3) EC Treaty in the version of the Maastricht Treaty on European Union, O.J. 1992, C 191, p. 1. Environmental action programmes will in future be adopted by formal decision, under the co-decision procedure between the Council and the European Parliament.
Article 130 r (2) phrase 2 EC Treaty.
Commission, “Towards sustainability. Proposal for a Fifth Environmental Action Programme.” COM(92)23 final of 3 April 1992, Volume III; see also Volume II, No. 6.
Directive 76/160 on the Quality of Bathing Waters, O.J. 1976, L 31, p. 1.
O.J. 1993, C 125, p. 22.
Directive 80/778 on the Quality of Waters for Human Consumption, O.J. 1980, L 229, p. 11.
Directives 80/779 (limit values for sulphuro-dioxide and suspended particulates, O.J. 1980, L 229, p. 30; 82/884 (limit values for lead), O.J. 1982, L 378, p. 15; 85/203 (limit values for nitrogen dioxides), O.J. 1985, L 87, p. 1.
Directive 84/360 on Air Pollution from Industrial Installations, O.J. 1984, L 168, p. 20.
Directive 921/156 on Waste, O.J. 1991, L 78. p. 32.
Directives 89/369 (new waste incinerator), O.J. 1989, L 163, p. 32; 89/429 (existing waste incinerators), O.J. 1989, L 203, p. 50.
I. Baldock, G. Beaufoy, N. Haigh, I. Hewett, D. Wilkinson, & M. Wenning: The integration of environmental protection requirements into the definition and implementation of other policies. London: Institute for European Environmental Policy, 1992. The paper by Baldock et al. does not deal with consumer policies. Thus, while the left column of the table in the text is borrowed from that publication, its adaptation to consumer policy as well as the right column entries are this author’s.
Commission (note 6), p. 21; the same statement is found in (Environment) Council Resolution on the 5th Community Environmental Action Programme, O.J. 1993, C 138, p. 1.
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© 1993 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
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Krämer, L. (1993). On the Interrelation Between Consumer and Environmental Policies in the European Community. In: Reich, N., Woodroffe, G. (eds) European Consumer Policy after Maastricht. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1484-6_9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1484-6_9
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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