Heads of the European Environment Agency visit President Moritz Leuenberger
Bern, 08.06.2006 - Switzerland has been a member of the European Environment Agency (EEA) since 1 April 2006. In order to mark the start of the concrete implementation of the agreement between Switzerland and the EU, EEA Executive Director Professor Jacqueline McGlade and Lars-Erik Liljelund, Chairman of the EEA Management Board came to Switzerland on a working visit on 8 June 2006. During their conversation with President Moritz Leuenberger they discussed the state of the environment, perspectives in Europe and the EEA assessment of Swiss environmental policy.
For many years Switzerland appeared as a white area in the middle of maps of the state of the environment in Europe. Following Switzerland's membership of the European Environment Agency (EEA, see fact sheet 1) from 1 April 2006 as part of the second series of bilateral agreements, this will now change. As a full member of the EEA, Switzerland will take part in the European Environmental Information and Observation Network (EIONET, see fact sheet 2). From now on it will therefore be possible to compare Swiss data and those of the EU on the state of the environment.
In the course of her country visits and to mark the start of cooperation with Switzerland as a full member of the EEA, the head of the EEA came to Bern on a working visit on 8 June 2006. EEA Executive Director Jacqueline McGlade and the Chairman of the EEA Management Board Lars-Erik Liljelund appeared to be pleased at Switzerland’s full membership. The discussion with President Moritz Leuenberger covered the state of the environment, perspectives in Europe and the EEA assessment of Swiss environmental policy. In addition, the partners also focussed on transport and climate policy in Switzerland and in other European states.
Federal Office for the Environment as an information hub
The Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) is responsible for contacts and data exchanges with the EEA. The Director of the FOEN (Dr Bruno Oberle) represents Switzerland on the EEA Management Board. During her working visit, the heads of the EEA therefore also met with the heads of the FOEN and those responsible for cooperation with the EEA. Jacqueline McGlade and Lars-Erik Liljelund were given an overview of environmental observation and environmental reporting in Switzerland, and of the cooperation between the federal government and the cantons. Bruno Oberle also stressed that research and business can benefit from Switzerland’s membership of the EEA, with the EEA calling for tenders for studies and projects worth EUR 13 to 17 million per year.
Address for enquiries
Bruno Oberle, Director FOEN +41 79 6871165
Markus Wüest, Head Environmental Observation Section, FOEN +41 31 3234244
Documents
Publisher
Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications
https://www.uvek.admin.ch/uvek/en/home.html
