Cohesion and the environment: policy integration at European level

✍ Scribed by Barrass, Robert ;Sprenger, Rolf-Ulrich ;Triebswetter, Ursula

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 127 KB
• Volume: 7
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0961-0405
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-0976(199707/08)7:4<101::aid-eet122>3.0.co;2-j

✦ Synopsis

Cohesion policies under the EC Treaty imply rapid GDP growth in the `cohesion countries' namely Ireland, Greece, Portugal and Spain, which have the lowest GDP per capita in the EU. However, GDP growth may not be compatible with sustainable development, unless proper account is taken of the value of the environmental resource endowment and of environmental quality as an attraction for investment. The cohesion process entails restructuring in key economic sectors, including industry, transport, energy and agriculture, where policies must incorporate an environmental dimension, overcoming weaknesses in technology and infrastructure. Although there is little evidence that the cohesion countries face a disproportionate cost burden from EC environmental legislation, their industries may suffer a competitive disadvantage if environmental certi®cation becomes a widespread contractual requirement. Structural and cohesion expenditures from the EC budget (coordinated with EIB ®nancing) can make a vital contribution to sustainable development, but environmental assessment procedures must be strengthened, particularly at a strategic level.