The practice of ‘small steps poorly implemented’ is clearly now insufficient and inappropriate to protect Europe from harmful chemicals, polluted air, climate change and plastic pollution. This is the warning of Europe’s largest network of environmental NGOs in a paper published for the governments of Romania, Finland and Croatia – the next three countries to hold the EU’s rotating presidency.

The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) is Europe’s largest network of environmental citizens’ organisations with 150 members in more than 30 countries.

In ‘The EEB’s Priorities for the European Union‘, addressed to Romania, Finland and Croatia, the EEB calls on the Presidency Trio to press for better implementation of environmental laws and the development of an 8^th Environment Action Programme to set a firm basis for environmental policy up to 2030.

The document, prepared in cooperation with Seas at Risk, was adopted by the EEB Board which has representatives from more than 30 countries and several European networks.

While the paper is directly addressed to the Presidencies, we recognise that progress depends upon the cooperation of the European Commission, the European Parliament and other Member States, as well as the Council President. However, Presidencies can often make a difference if they invest their political and technical capacities in the right issues and if there is sufficient political will.

In his foreword, Jeremy Wates, Secretary General of the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) said:

“There is an increasing understanding that the EU and the international community need to have a fundamental change in policy making to trigger the needed system changes to have a just transition to a one planet of economy. Progress during the trio Presidency of Romania, Finland and Croatia will be essential if the EU is to be a leading driver in this needed transition.”