Abstract
Environmental integration means making sure that environmental concerns are fully considered in the decisions and activities of other sectors. The importance of integration has been acknowledged since 1980's (i. e. the 3rd Environmental Action Programme) and has been stressed in the sustainable development discourses since 1990's. The 5th EAP established this objective as a priority.
The European Council in June 1998 decided to launch the Cardiff process, requiring different Council formations to integrate environmental considerations into their respective activities. As the relevant sectoral Councils established their own strategies, started the progress and submitted their reports, the Cardiff process has contributed to raising the political profile of integration.
According to article 6 of the EC Treaty, the Cardiff process is considered to be one process for implementing the sustainable development and is one of the most important principles in the EU Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS) of 2001, but is not subsumed into the EU SDS. The Cardiff process and the 6th EAP set a wider environmental framework than the EU SDS.
The stocktaking paper of this process was submitted in 2004. It showed the positive results and also pointed to negative ones: A general lack of consistency; Political commitment could be strengthened; Delivery, implementation and review mechanisms can be improved; Clearer priorities and focus are needed. And the complementary measures are required to ensure the effectiveness of the process at the community level and the national level.
To improve the environment through the environmental integration, the further coordination and cooperation is needed among the sectors, the actors and the levels of government continuously, which will probably pose new problems concerning the EU governance. However, the environmental integration is indispensable for sustainable development and is promoted especially in the economic fields now.
