UK to Debate Role of EU in Waste Legislation Ahead of Referendum : UK Parliamentary Inquiry into Role of EU in Setting UK Waste Policy

Ahead of the planned referendum the UK’s membership of the European Union, the extent to which EU environmental objectives and policies have succeeded in tackling environmental issues in the UK is to be assessed in an inquiry by the Parliamentary Environmental Audit Committee.

The inquiry will first look at the pros and cons of determining environmental policy at an EU level for the UK and, secondly, at the implications of such policies on the UK environment. The Committee said that it does not intend to examine the Common Agricultural Policy, owing to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ Committee’s ongoing work in that area.

The Committed has invited responses on some, or all, of the following sets of questions:

Objective 1: To understand the objectives of EU environmental policies, and the extent to which they have helped to address the most important environmental issues to the UK.

1. What advantages and/or disadvantages does environmental policymaking at the EU level offer for the UK?

2. Has the right balance between the objective of setting a flexible common EU framework for tackling cross-border environmental problems, and allowing for distinct national approaches to be taken into account been achieved?

3. How successful has the implementation of EU environmental policy and the role of the EU as an international negotiator on environmental issues been for the UK? In areas where this has fallen short, where could improvements be made?

Objective 2: To understand the implications of EU environmental policies on UK environmental protection.

1. Have EU environmental policies taken into account the specific character of environmental issues in the UK?

2. How effective have EU environmental policies been in addressing environmental issues in the UK? What work still needs to be done?

3. What impact has EU environmental policy had on the UK's businesses which are affected by the policies?

The deadline for submissions is 20 November 2015 and the word limit is 3000 words. Written submissions can be sent via the inquiry page.

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