EP Committee Votes for a Powerful Polluter Pays Principle

In January 2002, the Commission issued a proposal for a directive on environmental liability. The proposal aims to ensure that future environmental damage is paid by the polluter, and preferably prevented. The proposed directive covers three types of environmental damage: biodiversity, water and damage which causes serious potential or actual harm to public health via soil or sub-soil contamination. On 22 January 2003, the EP Environment Committee adopted its opinion on the draft directive on environmental liability. Despite much opposition from industry, the Committee voted in favour of strict rules and called for a wide financial and legal accountability of polluters.

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