A3-0224/94

Resolution on the need for further development of the Community strategy on waste management

The European Parliament,

-having regard to the Fifth Programme of Action on environmental protection entitled 'Towards sustainability',

-having regard to the resolutions adopted by Parliament and the Council in relation thereto,

-having regard to the communication from the Commission on a Community strategy for waste management and the resolutions adopted by Parliament and the Council in relation thereto,

-having regard to the motion for resolution by Mr Collins and others on the far-reaching splitting up of waste streams (B3-0328/93),

-having regard to Rule 45 of the Rules of Procedure,

-having regard to the report of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection (A3-0224/94),

A. having regard to the waste-related problems which still exist in the Member States of the European Union and which are not compatible with the principle of sustainable and environmentally-sound economic growth,

B.concerned that the measures so far taken to prevent and recycle waste are still not sufficient to achieve substantial reductions in the volume of waste,

C.whereas, given the close links between waste-management measures and the completion of the internal market, the principles of waste policy must be established at Community level,

D.whereas the Community strategy for waste management must therefore be developed further,

E.having regard to the new principles laid down in the Fifth Programme of Action concerning the participation of those directly affected, the transparency of decision-making processes and the setting of quantitative targets with regard to environmental policy,

F.having regard to the Commission's pilot projects concerning a new approach to developing measures relating to high-priority waste streams,

G.having regard to the fact that Denmark has a general tax on waste and the Netherlands plans to introduce a similar tax on waste,

H.having regard to the fact that natural resources like virgin materials are sold on the market without an internalization of the external environment costs, thereby creating a difficult market situation for secondary use of waste materials,

1.Calls on the Commission to submit a report on the measures so far taken to implement the Community strategy;

2.Calls on the Commission to submit proposals for further developing the Community's policy on waste, with particular reference to increasing the prevention and recycling of waste, the use of economic instruments and problems relating to the compatibility between waste management measures and the internal market;

3.Calls on the Commission to forge ahead with the pilot projects relating to high-priority waste streams, to report to Parliament on experience and results and to make appropriate proposals as to how working methods being used for the first time in the projects may be further developed, inter alia as regards the role of Parliament;

4.Calls on the Commission to research and draw up European taxation proposals that may encourage the development of a prevention policy;

5.Points out to the Commission that it must ensure that Parliament participates in the decision-making process, not only for the legislative procedures, but also for the non-legislative decisions like pilot projects;

6.Calls on the Commission to take account, in its proposals for the further development of waste policy, of the use of this new instrument, the establishment of industry's responsibility for the waste resulting from its products and the promotion of the development of markets for secondary raw materials;

7.Calls on the Commission to submit the now overdue reports on transposition by Member States of the waste directives, reporting also on the use of waste management plans, and to make appropriate proposals as to how this instrument may be used more effectively to achieve the aims of waste policy;

8.Calls on the Commission to send its forthcoming Communication on waste and waste management not only to the Council, but at the same time to the European Parliament;

9.Calls on the Commission to promote the development of Community waste statistics;

10.Calls on the Commission increasingly to promote the development of waste prevention and recycling technologies in the context of the R & D programmes and to make proposals for implementing the results thereof;

11.Calls on the Commission to explain how the waste policy objectives laid down in the Fifth Programme of Action are to be achieved by measures undertaken by the Union and Member States;

12.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission.