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Welcome. My name is Janez Potočnik and I am European Commissioner for the Environment. Making sure our environment is fit for the future is one of the toughest challenges of all... I hope you can see here what we're doing to try to meet that challenge.



News

29/10/2014: "A last message"

As my term of office at the European Commission comes to an end I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of you for your support during these past five years.

During my mandate I have focused on policies that will contribute to preserving our natural heritage while at the same time help provide growth opportunities and create jobs. Despite the many difficulties due to the economic and political fragility that have marked the world and the EU in these past years, we succeeded in keeping environment high on the political agenda.

I am confident that my successor will continue to promote policy-making that addresses the three dimensions of sustainable development: economic, social and environmental. I cannot imagine that we would in the future protect the environment without changing some of the basics of our economic behaviour and, on the other hand, I cannot imagine that we would in the future talk about economic growth and jobs ignoring that we live in a finite world.



24/10/2014: 12 cities apply for European Green Capital Award 2017

17/10/2014: Statement by Janez Potočnik, European Commissioner for Environment, on the outcome of Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP12)

22/10/2014: "Environmental protection best served through market instruments", Potočnik advises next Commission

13 October 2014: Potočnik to successor: “Vella will need to fight for environment”, interview in viEUws – the EU Policy Broadcaster

16/10/2014: Commission urges Malta to refrain from finch trapping

16/10/2014: European Commission urges Italy to address severe pollution issues at Europe's biggest steel plant

16/10/2014: Commission takes Romania to Court over toxic tailing pond

16/10/2014: Commission takes Poland to Court over failings in end-of-life vehicles legislation

16/10/2014: European Commission takes Portugal back to Court for inadequate waste water treatment, asks for fines

16/10/2014: Commission takes the Netherlands to court over failure to protect animals used for scientific purposes, asks for fines

16/10/2014: "Nature based solutions are often also the cheapest solutions"

10/10/2014: "We need to escape the handcuffs of GDP"

29/09/2014: Commission consults the public on criteria to identify Endocrine Disruptors

29/09/2014: Commission welcomes the Council's adoption of the Invasive Alien Species Regulation

25/09/2014: European Commission asks Court to fine Greece for inadequate management of hazardous waste

23/09/2014: 35 years of cooperation to protect wild birds in Europe

22/09/2014: 17 companies nominated for the 2014 European Business Awards for the Environment

16/09/2014: "Our streets, our choice" – EU launches 2014 European Mobility Week