European Union partners

Cooperation with EU Institutions

European Commission

The EEA's interactions with the European Commission must take place at the appropriate moments in the policy-making cycle. A shift towards multi-annual work programming in the Commission and the Agency are helping to facilitate this. This move offers the opportunity for greater coherence between the strategic programming documents of the Commission and the EEA.

The Directorates General for Environment (DG ENV) and for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) are the EEA's main counterparts at the European Commission. These three organisations also work closely with the Directorate General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD), the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and Eurostat on the knowledge base for European environment and climate policy.

As environmental considerations become more integrated into sectoral policies, the EEA also cooperates with other Directorates General of the European Commission, such as Transport, Energy, Agriculture and Regional Policy.

European Parliament

The EEA produces briefings, and organises workshops and informal meetings to support the European Parliament. We also participate in hearings upon request. There is close cooperation between the EEA and the Committee for Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, and we also work with many of the other 22 Committees, such as those for Transport and Tourism; Industry, Research and Energy; Agriculture and Rural Development; and Regional Development.

Council of the European Union

The Council of the European Union is the main decision-making body of the European Union. The Executive Director of the EEA is regularly invited to attend informal meetings of EU environment ministers. In addition, the EEA supports the environmental activities of the rotating EU Presidencies by, for example, preparing reports or organising workshops and seminars upon request.

EU advisory bodies

The EEA works together with EU advisory bodies, such as the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee, upon request. This includes participation in conferences, input to rapporteurs and informal contacts.