ABSTRACT
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 175(1)thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,1 Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee,2 Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions,3 Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty,4 in the
light of the joint text approved by the Conciliation Committee on 21 March 2001, Whereas:
(1) Article 174 of the Treaty provides that Community policy on the environment is to contribute to, inter alia, the preservation, protection and improvement of the quality of the environment, the protection of human health and the prudent and rational utilisation of natural resources and that it is to be based on the precautionary principle. Article 6 of the Treaty provides that environmental protection requirements are to be integrated into the definition of Community policies and activities, in particular with a view to promoting sustainable development.
