TVLInk Europe, 50 years of protecting Europe's environment

50 years of EU Environment Policy

The European Union has been a major force for protecting the world we live in. Fifty years ago, when the common market was born, what people wanted most was peace and prosperity in Europe. Caring for the environment did not feature in the founding Treaty of Rome.

But with pollution knowing no boundaries, few can question the vital role played by the EU over fifty years in protecting our environment. Four out of five of all environmental laws in the EU originated in Brussels. And the sheer scale and speed of our urban lifestyles continues to inform the policies and initiatives put in place.

This detailed video news release charts the achievements made at EU level in helping to make Europe greener and cleaner. From tackling poor air quality and polluted rivers to pushing for a reduction in and better management of waste; from putting in place tough chemical safety laws to the protection of biodiversity through Natura 2000, the EU is taking action on the ground to tackle key environmental issues… Not least by taking on the biggest challenge yet: climate change.