Annual Peer Review on the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS)

EMAS-Competent Bodies Forum ANNUAL PEER REVIEW 2005 for the period 2003/2004 Function of Competent Bodies Eco-Management and Audit Scheme EMAS Executive Summary The annual peer review of the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) 2003/2004 aims at assessing the various administrational schemes for the successful implementation of EMAS in the EU Member States and the countries of the European Economic Area (EEA). The goal of sustainable development, which is now an integral part of the European Union objectives, called for the use of a wider range of tools for environmental policy, such as the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme. Participation in EMAS is voluntary and extends to public and private organisations operating in the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA), but as EMAS has legal status within the EU Member States, it can take a very pro-active approach to environmental management issues in addition to other regulations and directives in the environmental sector. A number of actors share responsibility for implementing and promoting EMAS in the European 1Union. The Commission develops and supervises the scheme at EU level , but the participating countries were obliged to create the registration and verification scheme at the national level, including Competent and Accreditation bodies. The annual peer review is a monitoring report and situational analysis of the current status of EMAS implementation in the ...