The publication "Integration of
environment into transport policy - from strategies to good practice" (pdf ~880K) provides inspiration and insights about how to promote integration of
environmental considerations into transport policy. It is based on messages
and issues discussed during a two-day conference held in Brussels in October
2002 on "Good Practice in Integration of Environment into Transport Policy".
More specifically, the publication highlights "lessons learned", cases
presented and selected conclusions from the various thematic workshops. The
full documentation and detailed workshop conclusions of the conference can be
found elsewhere on this web page.
The concept of sector integration
A multi-objective approach
Integration of environmental concerns into a sector activity
means that the actors in that sector take environmental issues into account
on an equal basis with other concerns, such as economic and social aspects.
Successful integration requires that environmental objectives are formulated
and included in the process at the same time and level of commitment as
economic and social objectives.
A Treaty requirement
Sector integration has long been recognised as an important
strategic policy-making principle. Integration has been a priority for the
Community since the Rio UN Conference on the Environment and Development
in 1992. With the adoption of the Amsterdam Treaty, integration gained an
even higher profile in the form of Article 6.
The "Cardiff process"
This process was launched to give substance to Article
6. In June 1998, the European Council in Cardiff invited a number of sectors
to formulate integration strategies. Responding to this, the transport Council
submitted a strategy to the 1999 Helsinki European Council. The strategy
was reviewed and reaffirmed by the Council in April 2001. Next review is
foreseen to take place during the Danish Presidency in the second half of
2002. In 1998, the joint transport/environment Council invited the Commission
to ".facilitate the exchange of information on national and local strategies
.taking into account best practice.". This is part of the background
for the conference.
The conference on Good Practice in Integration of Environment
into Transport Policy was held on 10-11 October 2002 in Brussels, Belgium.
During these two days policy-makers working with transport
policy development at national or regional level, government officials from
transport and environment ministries, national authorities, representatives
of non-governmental organisations were gathered to exchange examples of
good practice and experience on integration of environmental concerns into
transport policy.
All presentations and conclusions from workshops presented
at the conference can be downloaded by clicking on one of the links below
(pdf ~50-8,000K):
Conference
on Good Practice in Integration of Environment into Transport Policy