In 1993, the Commission adopted an internal Communication on the mechanisms needed to ensure the integration of the environment into the definition and implementation of policies, legislative acts and funding.  Following the adoption of the Amsterdam Treaty,  when integration of environmental protection into other community policies became a requirement  (Article 6 Treaty on European Communities),  the Commission reviewed its 1993 Communication in 1997 and suggested new measures, such as the Green Star system (Communication C(97)1844/1 and 2) (pdf~30K).

In order to put Article 6 of the EC Treaty into practice, the European Council in Luxembourg (December 1997) asked the Commission to prepare a strategy on environmental integration. The subsequent Commission Communication "Partnership for Integration COM(98) 333" was welcomed by the Cardiff European Council (June 1998) and the ideas of this Communication were developed into practical requirements for the Commission (e.g. compulsory environmental appraisals of major policy proposals) and for the Council. In this respect, relevant formations of the Council were invited to establish their own strategies for achieving environmental integration and sustainable development within their respective policy areas. They were asked to monitor progress taking account of the Commission’s suggested guidelines ("Partnership for Integration") and to identify indicators. The Transport, Energy and Agriculture Councils were invited to start this process.

The subsequent European Councils (Vienna and Cologne) invited more Council formations to join, i.e. the Development, Internal Market, Industry, General Affairs, Ecofin and Fisheries. The Commission submitted a Working Paper on mainstreaming of environmental policy to the Cologne European Council (SEC(1999)777).

The Helsinki European Council (December 1999) took stock of progress and reaffirmed the commitment to sustainable development and to integration. Three Council formations submitted their strategies to the Summit, i.e. Transport (11 October 1999 n°11717/99), Energy (3 December 1999 n° 13773/99) and Agriculture (17 November 1999 n° 13078/99). Industry (3 December 1999 n° 13549/1/99), Internal Market (30 November 1999 n° 13622/99) and Development (2 December 1999 n° 13644/99) reported on progress so far and presented elements for upcoming strategies.

The Heads of State and Government asked the Council to bring the work in developing sectoral integration strategies to a conclusion by the Gothenburg European Council (June 2001) and submit comprehensive strategies "with the possibility of including a timetable for further measures and a set of indicators for these sectors". This should be followed by their immediate implementation as well as by regular evaluation, follow-up and monitoring by the Council and the Commission. In addition, the Commission was invited to prepare a long-term Community strategy for sustainable development by the Gothenburg European Council and a proposal for the 6^th Environmental Action Programme then in the process of being adopted.

The Gothenburg European Council took stock of progress in the nine sectors and policy areas requested to produce integration strategies. This review was based on a report  by the Swedish Presidency, and studies evaluating progress in integration, commissioned by several Member States [Austria and Germany (pdf ~150K)]. For development from Gothenburg onwards, see integration update.

The Commission has been proactive throughout the process. In most cases, the work of the Council has been based on Commission Communications or Working Documents. The Commission published an evaluation of the Council strategies for the Helsinki European Council ("From Cardiff to Helsinki and beyond", SEC(1999)1941) recommending how Council integration strategies should be further developed and listing short and medium-term actions for sectors. A co-ordinated report on indicators  SEC(1999)1942)  (pdf ~100K) proposing an overall system of environmental indicators was also prepared. 

Indicative chronology of development in the field of environment integration (1992-2001):

1^st wave: Commitment to achieve sustainable development

• 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio de Janeiro): Agenda 21 and the Rio Declaration in order to achieve global sustainable development

• Maastricht Treaty (Art. 130R §2-): sustainable growth and obligation to integrate

• 5^th Environmental Action Programme 5EAP (1993-2000)

• 1993 Commission Communication on Internal integration measures

• 1995/1996: Review of the 5EAP

• 1997: Commission Communication to prepare for Rio+5

2^nd wave: Strengthening of integration

• 1997 Rio+5 (UNGASS): Reaffirming the political commitment to achieve the Rio objectives

• 1997 Amsterdam Treaty: SD overall objective (Art. 2) and integration as a means for achieving it (Art. 6)

• Co-decision on the 5EAP (September 1998): Mandate to prepare the Global Assessment

• 1997 December: Luxembourg European Council: Swedish initiative to kick-off the integration process and request to the Commission to develop a strategy for Cardiff

• 1997 July Communication: Reaffirmed commitment to internal integration measures

• 1998 May: Communication to the European Council "Partnership for Integration"

3^rd wave: Cardiff process

• 1998 June Cardiff European Council: identification of 1^st round of councils to develop integration strategies, including indicators (transport, energy, agriculture) with a view to help solve the climate change problem and advance environmental concerns in the Agenda 2000 process

• 1998 December Vienna European Council: identification of 2nd round of councils (Internal Market, industry, development), focus on climate change, enlargement and employment and request to the Commission to make a report on environmental appraisals of major policy proposals to Cologne and a coordinated report on indicators to Helsinki

• 1999 Cologne European Council: identification of Fisheries, Ecofin and General Affairs as the 3^rd round of Councils; report in 2000 on integration.

• 1998 November: Agriculture, Transport and Energy Council Conclusions on integration: Commitment to develop integration strategies by the Helsinki European Council

• 1998 November: European Parliament’s resolution on integration

• 1999 May: Adoption of the Commission Communication on EU’s climate change strategy

• 1999 May: Commission Working Paper to the Cologne European Council "Mainstreaming of environmental policy"

Helsinki European Council (December 1999)

1999 Helsinki European Council (10-11 December): Review of overall progress on integrating environment and sustainable development on the basis of

• The sectoral integration strategies or progress reports by different Councils (see Annex I for the state of play);

• A coordinated report on indicators by the Commission; and

• The Global Assessment (GA) of the 5EAP.

• Sustainable development strategy

• Beyond Gothenburg

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