Outcome of the stakeholders' consultation resulting from COM(2003)131 on the Environmental Technology Action Plan (ETAP) (link)

Brussels, 30 Jul 2003

Outcome of the stakeholders' consultation resulting from COM(2003)131

Summary of comments made

• 72 responses received
• Very wide range of contributors, with a large input from UK
• Broad accord on issues considered; "Climate Change" and "Sustainable Production & Consumption" regarded as key; air quality should have been addressed
• From commercial to advanced technologies; risk that cross-cutting technologies are marginalised; techniques, services and work organisations duly considered; clearer definition of environmental technologies (ETs) required by some
• Barriers well identified; mostly generic by nature
• Main barriers located at the level of market penetration and development: 1) lack of "coherent" legislation (integration and harmonisation), 2) higher cost of ETs, 3) lack of financial means to back the development, demonstration and acquisition of ETs
• Need for a common EU framework made up of both supply and demand measures; integrated packages; ex-ante impact assessment required by some
• Strengthened and streamlined legislation; long-term vision and concrete "performance" targets; enforcement of existing legislation; uniform, quick and simplified approval and licensing procedures; sector-specific voluntary agreements to be explored
• Need for market-based incentives; internalisation of external costs regarded as essential; use of the full range of financial instruments; harmonised scheme at the international level; removal of subsidies to non ETs
• Need for structured communication addressing all actors and institutional levels; on-line European database; need to educate and change behaviour; public authorities to show example; need for new decision-making tools
• Permanent need for R&D (especially for accession countries and SMEs); more emphasis on large scale demonstration; important role of socio-economic research; support to policy-making
• Technology transfer (incl. to developing countries) and education and training need further improvement (e.g. better use of aid instruments, European centre of excellence).• Regional policy and public procurement to become more propitious to the take up of innovative technologies (e.g. introduction of the concept of "whole life cost")
• The Action Plan should build upon the existing; governance and timing key for implementation; need for monitoring and follow-up mechanisms

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Full text

DG Research
http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/research/i ndex_en.html