Environment policy: general principles and basic framework

EU Fact Sheets 09-01-2024

European environment policy is based on the principles of precaution, prevention and rectifying pollution at source, and on the ‘polluter pays’ principle. The EU faces complex environmental issues, ranging from climate change and biodiversity loss to resource depletion and pollution. Environment policy has recently been moved to centre stage in EU policymaking, with the Commission launching the European Green Deal (2019) as the main driver of its economic growth strategy.