Improving implementation and the evidence base for the ELD Under the Framework Contract No. ENV D.4/FRA/2016/0003 COWI, Prospect, Justice and Environment Edited by Sándor Fülöp Authors: Alge, Thomas (AT) Schamschula, Gregor (AT) Schmidhuber, Birgit (AT) Bouquelle, Farah (BE) Lavrysen, Luc (BE) Peev, Plamen (BG) Stoykova, Yulia (BG) Sbokos, Jorgos (CY) Cerny, Pavel (CZ) Hlaváčová, Lenka (CZ) Franke, Johannes (DE) Verheyen, Roda (DE) Andersen, Søren Stig (DK) Relve, Kaarel (EE) Liaska, Emilia (EL) Kallia, Angelika (EL) Salazar Ortuño, Eduardo (ES) Vitello, Serguianne (ES) Veistola, Tapani (FI) Biot-Stuart, Carole (FR) Gaillard, Emilie (FR) Ćerimagić, Enes (HR) Leljak Gracin, Željka (HR) Gajdics, Agnes (HU) Kiss, Csaba (HU) Gajdics, Agnes (IE) Browne, David (IE) 2 D'Antonio, Raffaella (IT) Delsignore, Monica (IT) Žvaigždinienė, Indrė (LT) Biot-Stuart, Carole (LU) Mikosa, Zaneta (LV) Bonello, Claire (MT) Douma, Wybe (NL) Bar, Magdalena (PL) Amador, Teresa (PT) Radulescu, Catalina (RO) Bengtsson, Anders (SE) Šifkovič Vrbica, Senka (SI) Wilfing, Peter (SK) Fulop, Sandor (summaries and non-bracketed paragraphs) Project management: Kiss, Csaba Berki Zsuzsanna Berki András 3 Pictures of the authors of this study: 4 “The information and views set out in this study are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the Commission. The Commission does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this study. Neither the Commission nor any person acting on the Commission’s behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.” 5 Content Improving implementation and the evidence base for the ELD ............................................................. 1 Abstract ............................................................................................................................................. 14 Abstract ............................................................................................................................................. 14 SUMMARY FOR THE EUROPEAN ELD RESEARCH ................................................................................. 15 Executive summary ........................................................................................................................... 15 Résumé .............................................................................................................................................. 19 I ELD numbers in the EU countries ................................................................................................... 23 ELD data flow ................................................................................................................................. 23 Access to ELD data through EU sources ........................................................................................ 24 Access to ELD data through non-ELD relevant sources of environmental authorities ................. 25 Access to ELD-relevant data from non-environmental authorities and non-governmental state bodies and statistics ...................................................................................................................... 25 Alternative information sources.................................................................................................... 26 I.B Evaluation by in-depth researchers ............................................................................................. 26 Why it is important to amend the information base of our ELD systems? ................................... 26 Harness alternative information sources ...................................................................................... 27 Further legal and practical changes necessary for more effective environmental liability information systems ...................................................................................................................... 27 Mandatory ELD registers, information content of the homepages of the relevant environmental authorities ..................................................................................................................................... 28 I.C Other sources ............................................................................................................................... 31 The ELD Resolution of the European Parliament .......................................................................... 31 Justice and Environment opinion .................................................................................................. 32 I.D Chapter summary ......................................................................................................................... 33 II Use of laws other than national ELD laws for potential ELD cases – overlooking the comparative advantages of the ELD ................................................................................................ 34 The relationship between the liability rules of old sectoral laws and ELD is not always clear ..... 35 The inertia of the system of environmental liability ..................................................................... 36 Scarce cultivation of ELD rules ...................................................................................................... 36 Typical legal arguments for not using the new ELD laws .............................................................. 37 Comparative advantages of the new ELD rules ............................................................................. 39 II.B Evaluation by in-depth researchers ............................................................................................ 41 Formulation of solid legal practice for ELD implementation ........................................................ 41 6 Potential structural legislative changes ......................................................................................... 42 Potential changes in some details of ELD legislation and legal practice ....................................... 44 II.C Other sources .............................................................................................................................. 44 The ELD Resolution of the European Parliament .......................................................................... 44 The EPA-ICEL Conference .............................................................................................................. 46 Justice and Environment opinion .................................................................................................. 46 CERCLA study ................................................................................................................................. 47 II.D Chapter summary ........................................................................................................................ 47 III Understanding and appreciation of the ELD by stakeholders .................................................... 50 ELD in the media ............................................................................................................................ 51 Knowledge of the ELD in business circles ...................................................................................... 52 ELD in sciences ............................................................................................................................... 52 The ELD and authorities ................................................................................................................ 52 ELD and courts ............................................................................................................................... 53 How much do NGOs know about the ELD? ................................................................................... 53 Need for awareness raising ........................................................................................................... 54 III.B Evaluation by in-depth researchers ........................................................................................... 54 Systematic capacity building efforts for all stakeholders .............................................................. 54 Targets ........................................................................................................................................... 55 Methodology and content ............................................................................................................. 57 III.C Other sources ............................................................................................................................. 58 III.D Chapter summary....................................................................................................................... 58 IV Authorities charged with ELD cases ............................................................................................. 59 National-level ELD authorities, their functions and working conditions....................................... 60 Non-environmental authorities involved in ELD cases.................................................................. 62 Non-governmental state bodies .................................................................................................... 63 Lower-level authorities .................................................................................................................. 65 Courts ...........................................................................................................................................