Environmental policy integration in Europe:State of play and an evaluation framework

Environmental policy integration (EPI) involves a continual process to ensure environmental issues are reflected in all policymaking. This generally demands changes in political, organisational and procedural activities, so that environmental issues are taken on board as early as possible and continuing during implementation. The product of EPI should be an overall improvement in policy and its implementation, in line with sustainable development needs. This review of EPI in 25 EU countries (and Norway) also discusses the role of public consultation in policy integration being promoted by implementation of the Aarhus Convention.