EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENT AGENCY (EEA)

The European Environment Agency (EEA) is the EU body dedicated to providing sound and independent information on the environment. We are a main information source for those involved in developing, adopting, implementing and evaluating environmental policy, as well as the general public.

Our aim is to help the EU and member countries make informed decisions about improving the environment, integrating environmental considerations into economic policies and moving towards sustainability To do this, we provide a wide range of information and assessments. This covers the state of the environment and trends in it, together with pressures on the environment and the economic and social driving forces behind them. It also covers policies and their effectiveness. We try to identify possible future trends and problems using scenarios and other techniques.

A major source of information is the European environment information and observation network (Eionet). The EEA is responsible for developing the network and coordinating its activities. To do this, we work closely together with the national focal points, typically national environment agencies or environment ministries in the member countries. They are responsible for coordinating national networks involving about 300 institutions in all.

To support data collection, management and analysis we have established and work closely with five European topic centres covering water, air and climate change, nature protection and biodiversity, waste and material flows, and terrestrial environment.

We also work closely together with other European and international institutions such as the Statistical Office (Eurostat) and Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The EEA and Eionet were established by Council Regulation (EEC) No 1210/90 of 7 May 1990 with later amendments (1999, 2003). The Agency is located in Copenhagen and by 2004 had a staff of approximately 115. The Agency’s 2004 budget is about EUR 31 million.

Membership is open to countries that are not Member States of the European Union. We now have 31 member countries: 25 EU Member States together with Bulgaria, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Romania and Turkey.

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