European Community Directives

Directive

Description

Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the Conservation of Wild Birds 1979 (the EC Birds Directive)

The Birds Directive is part implementation of the Bern Convention.  Member states are required to maintain the favourable conservation status of all wild bird species across their distributional range and provide general protection to all wild birds.  This is implemented in the UK through the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.  The Directive also requires the designation of protected sites for rare or vulnerable species and migratory species of bird to form a European network of protected sites.

Council Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment 1985, as amended in 1997 (Council Directive 97/11/EC) and 2003  (the EIA directive)

Member states are required to assess the environmental effects of public and private developments and other projects which are likely to have significant effects on the environment before consent is given.  The assessment must include assessment of impacts on flora and fauna.  Implemented in the UK through various pieces of legislation including the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England & Wales) Regulations 1999, as amended.

Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora 1992 (the Habitats Directive).

The Habitats Directive is part implementation of the Bern Convention (see above).  Member States are required to implement legislation to designate a network of protected sites and maintain their ecological integrity. Certain species are also strictly protected through this Directive. In England and Wales, the Habitats Directive is implemented through the Conservation of Habitats & Species Regulations 2010.

Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for the Community Action in the field of Water Policy 2000 (the Water Framework Directive)

Member states must implement legislation to designate, monitor and maintain or improve the ecological status of river basins. Includes impact assessments, management plans and pollution control measures.  The Water Framework Directive is implemented in the UK through The Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2003.

Directive 2004/35/EC on environmental liability with regard to the prevention and remediation of environmental damage 2004 (the Environmental Liability Directive)

This directive seeks to achieve the prevention and remediation of environmental damage, specifically, damage to habitats and species protected by EC law, and other habitats and species designated by member states, damage to water resources, and land contamination which presents a threat to human health.  In England this is implemented under The Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) Regulations 2009.

Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy (the Marine Strategy Framework Directive)

This directive aims to achieve good ecological status for Europe’s seas by the year 2020. Each member state will need to develop a marine strategy which aims to  protect and preserve the marine environment, prevent its deterioration or, where practicable, restore marine ecosystems in areas where they have been adversely affected. Each member state also needs to phase out pollution so as to ensure that there are no significant impacts on or risks to marine biodiversity, marine ecosystems, human health or legitimate uses of the sea.