The European Parliament approved a resolution which calls on the European Commission to propose a Seventh Environmental Action Programme (EAP) as soon as possible, and MEPs also ask that the Programme must take steps and set targets to protect the EU's environment and spur more efficient use of energy and natural resources.

MEPs approved a resolution in order to ask the Commission to propose a Seventh Environmental Action Programme (EAP) as soon as possible, given that the current sixth edition expires in July. According to MEPs, the 7th EAP should help mainstream climate change and other environmental objectives across all policy areas, particularly in industry, transport, agriculture and fisheries.

The text approved in plenary session by MEPs also calls for introducing into the programme a strict and detailed plan both at European and national level for the phasing-out of all environmentally harmful subsidies by 2020, for example to avoid adverse affects on biodiversity, which was the subject of a separate resolution approved by MEPs on the same plenary session.

Moreover, MEPs also want to introduce into the next EAP, binding targets for energy efficiency. MEPs highlights that the new framework programme also should set more ambitious prevention, re-use and recycling targets, including a net decrease of waste generation. The Environment Committee MEPs want the new EAP to properly address emerging threats to human and animal health, such as nanomaterials, endocrine disruptors and the combination effects of chemicals.