      
The most important changes of direction
ECONOMIC
INSTRUMENTS
·
Restructure taxes to be more environmentally and cost effective
·
Regular evaluation of existing environmental taxes
·
Promote the use of tradable quotas
·
Increase the use and international coordination of market-based instruments
·
Promote the EU’s work with environ mental liability
·
A solid knowledge and decision base for economic instruments
The market for
cleaner products
·
Clear, visible and reliable information about cleaner products in the EU, including life-
cycle assessments and eco-labelling
·
Innovation and distribution of environmentally-friendly products
·
Partnerships and dialogue with market players regarding cleaner products
Technological
development and
innovation
·
Partnerships to help promote the formation of competitive knowledge environments
·
Green technological foresight
·
Draw environmental technology innovation into research and development activities
within specific technology areas
·
New research results must be translated into commercial applications to a greater extent
Climate
·
Flexible mechanisms: quota trading between countries, joint implementation (JI) and
clean development mechanism (CDM)
·
Quota regulation and quota trading via the EU’s Emissions Trading Directive
Water
·
Changes in the organisation of the water resources sector, including deregulation and
outsourcing
·
Transparent fees and taxes
·
Greater use of economic instruments combined with reduced administrative burdens in
accordance with the Action Plan for the Aquatic Environment III
Waste
·
Changes to the organisation of the waste management sector, including deregulation
and outsourcing
·
Transparent fees
·
Producer responsibility
Chemicals
·
Producer and importer responsibility
·
Information for enterprises and the retail sector
·
Greater knowledge-building concerning the effects on people and the environment
·
Better organisation of taxes
Nature and forests
·
Optimise resource usage through financial partnerships
·
Joint ownership of nature
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