Environmental policy and environmental law are important responsibilities of the EU. It has also a leadership responsibility in global environmental management. Sustainable development and the integration of environmental protection into Community policies are issues now reflected directly in the Treaties.
Norway adopts most EU environmental policies and legislation through the EEA Agreement. This does however, not include the protection of nature, such as the bird directive, the directive on habitats and Natura 2000. The legal texts on environmental matters can be found on EFTA's official homepage (Annex XX to the EEA, and on matters concerning chemicals in Annex II).
Relevant questions concerning sustainable development and environmental issues, as well as civil protection and nuclear safety, can be addressed to the Ministry of the Environment.
Activities
So far more than 250 environmental acts have been incorporated into the EEA Agreement. Norway and Norwegian experts participate in 30 - 40 expert groups and management committees where they have an opportunity to present Norwegian views. Norwegian experts can be contacted through the Ministry of the Environment and the Norwegian Pollution Control Authority.
Norway participates in the European Environment Agency in Copenhagen, which presents reports on the state of the environment in Europe. These reports provide important input for policymaking.
For more information, contact the Environment Counsellors at the Mission of Norway to the EU:
Henrik Eriksen, heer@mfa.no, ph.: + 32 (0) 2 238 74 26 (climate change and chemicals),
Knut Kroepelien, kfk@mfa.no, ph.:+ 32 (0) 2 238 74 37 (biodiversity, waste, industry and other issues)