The Commission’s proposal for a 7th EU Environment Action Programme

The author argues that the European Commission's proposal for the 7th EU Environment Action Programme is a 'mockery' of environmental policy because it contains no concrete actions, instead repeating existing Treaty provisions and vague objectives. The text claims this approach prioritizes economic growth over environmental protection and warns that the EU's failure to provide strong environmental leadership may lead to the renationalization of environmental issues by Member States.

• The author contends that the European Commission is attempting to diminish EU environmental policy, treating it as a minor addition to policies aimed at promoting economic growth.
• The proposal for the 7th environmental action programme is criticized for lacking any specific, concrete actions, instead relying on vague objectives and the repetition of existing TFEU (Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union) articles regarding health risks, environmental protection, and policy integration.
• The document highlights a contradiction between the Commission's goal to enhance city sustainability and its simultaneous legal actions against approximately 20 EU Member States for failing to meet air pollution limits agreed upon in 2008.
• The author warns that if the EU fails to efficiently protect human health and the environment, the responsibility will shift back to individual Member States, potentially impacting the internal market.

APA

Kramer, L. (2013). The Commission’s proposal for a 7th EU Environment Action Programme. ClientEarth. https://www.clientearth.org/media/apxdwn50/2013-01-15-the-commissions-proposal-for-a-7th-eu-environment-action-programme-ce-en.pdf

Chicago

Kramer, Ludwig. The Commission’s proposal for a 7th EU Environment Action Programme. ClientEarth, 2013. https://www.clientearth.org/media/apxdwn50/2013-01-15-the-commissions-proposal-for-a-7th-eu-environment-action-programme-ce-en.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Kramer |first1=Ludwig |title=The Commission’s proposal for a 7th EU Environment Action Programme |publisher=ClientEarth |date=15 January 2013 |url=https://www.clientearth.org/media/apxdwn50/2013-01-15-the-commissions-proposal-for-a-7th-eu-environment-action-programme-ce-en.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{kramer2013commissions, author = {Kramer, Ludwig}, title = {{The Commission’s proposal for a 7th EU Environment Action Programme}}, publisher = {ClientEarth}, year = {2013}, month = jan, url = {https://www.clientearth.org/media/apxdwn50/2013-01-15-the-commissions-proposal-for-a-7th-eu-environment-action-programme-ce-en.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }