Successful launch of the report in Brussels.

"Environment policy works", EEA executive director Jacqueline McGlade stated boldly when presenting "The European environment - State and outlook 2005" at the launch in Brussels 29 November.

In her presentation Jacqueline McGlade went on to say that there had been major improvements in the European environment over the last decades thanks to the coordinated efforts of the EU member states, and that the union should continue to build on this legacy to deal with the challenges now facing Europe. Jacqueline McGlade was flanked on the podium by European Parliament environement committee chairman Karl-Heinz Florenz and European commision vice president Margot Wallström. They both commended the Agency for its work on the report, labelled by commissioner Wallstrom as "an excellent piece of technical work" giving "a high-resolution picture of the environmental challenges facing the continent". The press conference, which was held in the European Parliament press centre was attended by around 200 people.

Programme for the launch:

European Parliament, Brussels - 29 November 2005
Programme

	10:00	Registration and coffee
	10:45	Welcome by José Liberato, Spokesperson, European Parliament Speakers: Jacqueline McGlade, Executive Director, European Environment Agency Karl-Heinz Florenz, Chair, ENVI committee, European Parliament Margot Wallström, Vice-President, Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy, European Commission Questions & Answers
	11:30- 12:00	Aperitifs and canapés outside the press centre