European Union partners

Cooperation with EU Institutions

European Commission

EEA's interaction with the European Commission needs to be ensured at the proper points in the policy-making cycle. This is facilitated by a greater trend towards multi-annual work programming in the Commission and the Agency. This offers the opportunity for a greater dovetailing between the EEA Strategy and its Annual Management Plan (AMP) and the Commission’s Annual Policy Strategy (APS) and Commission Work Programme (CWP).

The Directorate General (DG) Environment (DG ENV) is EEA's main counterpart at the European Commission and provides input in the elaboration of the EEA Annual Management Plan.

Within the so-called "Group of Four", the EEA, DG ENV, the Institute for Environment and Sustainability of the Joint Research Centre and Eurostat agreed on a division of tasks in environmental reporting.

As environmental considerations are being more and more integrated in sectoral policies, the EEA also cooperates with other Directorates General of the European Commission, such as Transport and Energy, Research, Agriculture and Regional Policy DGs.

European Parliament

The EEA supports the European Parliament with briefings, workshops, informal meetings and, upon request, participates in hearings. Particular cooperation takes place with the Committee for Environment, Public Health and Food Safety and the Temporary Committee on Climate Change. The EEA also works together with many of the other 19 Committees, such as the Transport and Tourism, Agriculture and Rural Development and Regional Development Committees.

Council of the European Union

The Council of the European Union is the main decision-making body of the European Union. The Executive Director of the EEA is regularly invited to attend the informal meetings of the environment ministers. Exceptionally, Prof. McGlade also participates in informal meetings on other policy areas, such as on territorial cohesion under the Portuguese Presidency in late 2007. In addition, the EEA supports the environmental activities of the rotating EU Presidencies by e.g., preparing reports or organising workshops and seminars upon request.

EU advisory bodies

The EEA works together with EU advisory bodies i.e., the Committee of the Regions  and the European Economic and Social Committee, upon their request. This includes participation in conferences, input to their rapporteurs and informal contacts.

Community agencies

The EEA is one of the Community Agencies that have been set up in order to accomplish specific technical, scientific or managerial tasks.