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Encyclopedia of Environmental Issues, 3rd Edition

European Environment Agency (EEA)

by Shawncey Webb

Fields of Study: Government, Politics, International Relations; Organizations, Agencies, Commissions, Centers; Ecology, Environment, Environmentalism

Identification: Agency of the European Union that collects and disseminates information about the environment

Date: Established on December 10, 1990

The European Environment Agency plays a key role in the European Union’s programs to protect and improve the environment in Europe. Through its sharing of the data it collects the agency also significantly contributes to the development and implementation of policies to benefit the environment on a global basis.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) was created in 1990 by a European Union (EU) regulation. In 1993 Copenhagen, Denmark, was chosen as the location for the agency, which began operations in 1994. EEA operates under an executive director and a management board assisted by an advisory committee of scientists. EEA’s main function is to provide objective, dependable information about the state of the environment, environmental trends, various policies that have been implemented, and the effectiveness of those policies. EEA also attempts to anticipate environmental problems that may arise in the future. The agency addresses the major environmental issues of global importance, including climate change, air pollution, biodiversity, health concerns in relation to the environment, and the necessity for sustainable production and consumption.

As an organization created by the European Union, EEA assists the EU and its member countries and various institutions operating within the EU, such as the European Parliament and the Committee of the Regions, in the making of decisions and policies that affect the environment. In addition, EEA makes information about the environment available to EU candidate countries, EEA cooperating countries, and the EU’s neighboring countries under the EU Neighbourhood Policy. It works cooperatively with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environment Canada, and the State Environmental Protection Agency of China. EEA also works with international organizations such as the World Health Organization, the World Bank, and the United Nations to promote environmentally sound policies. EEA makes its information available to all segments of the general public and is of particular assistance to individuals and groups in the business and academic communities.

European Environment Agency on Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen, Denmark. By Loozrboy from Toronto, Canada (Vertical garden).

ENVIs2e_p0512_1.jpg

The regulation that created EEA in 1990 also established the European Environment Information and Observation Network, known as Eionet, which is coordinated by EEA. Eionet collects and records data, which it then collates and assesses. The network is composed primarily of environmental agencies and ministries and other environmental organizations of member countries of EEA. In addition to Eionet, EEA has established the European Topic Centre, which collects and analyzes data on specific topics such as climate change and land use. EEA also works in cooperation with the EU Statistical Office and the EU Joint Research Centre. In partnership with the European Commission and its member countries, EEA participates in a program to interconnect their databases through a shared environmental information system.

In 2004 EEA developed the first environmental management program introduced by an EU entity, a system designed to help EEA employees understand their roles in the agency and to encourage them to participate in projects to improve the environment. EEA went on to help other agencies develop management systems.

Further Reading

1 

Dilling, Rasmus. “Improving Implementation by Networking: The Role of the European Environment Agency.” In Implementing EU Environmental Policy: New Directions and Old Problems, edited by Christoph Knill and Andrea Lenschow. New York: Manchester University Press, 2000.

2 

European Environment Agency. The European Environment: State and Outlook 2005. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2005.

3 

Hunter, Janet R., and Zachary A. Smith. Protecting Our Environment: Lessons from the European Union. Albany: State University of New York Press, 2005.

Citation Types

Type
Format
MLA 9th
Webb, Shawncey. "European Environment Agency (EEA)." Encyclopedia of Environmental Issues, 3rd Edition, edited by Richard Renneboog, Salem Press, 2019. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=ENVIs2e_0271.
APA 7th
Webb, S. (2019). European Environment Agency (EEA). In R. Renneboog (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Environmental Issues, 3rd Edition. Salem Press. online.salempress.com.
CMOS 17th
Webb, Shawncey. "European Environment Agency (EEA)." Edited by Richard Renneboog. Encyclopedia of Environmental Issues, 3rd Edition. Hackensack: Salem Press, 2019. Accessed September 17, 2025. online.salempress.com.