Environmental liability

Protecting Europe’s natural resources and the ecosystem services they provide is important for a healthy economy and society in the face of unprecedented pressure on the environment, including major losses of biodiversity.

The Environmental Liability Directive (ELD) entered into force in 2007. It established a comprehensive EU-wide liability regime for environmental damage based on the ‘polluter-pays’ principle. By making those that have caused environmental damage liable for remediation, the ELD provides a strong incentive to avoid damage occurring in the first place. It also makes those whose activities threaten the environment liable for taking preventive action. The ELD supports other EU environmental laws that are designed to protect the environment.

The overall aim of the ELD is to prevent and fully remedy damaged natural resources and their services to the condition that would have existed if no damage had occurred.

Main law: Directive 2004/35/EC on environmental liability with regard to the prevention and remedying of environmental damage

The ELD defines environmental damage as damage to protected species and natural habitats, to water and to soil. In March 2021, the Commission adopted guidelines that clarify the scope of the term ‘environmental damage’ in the ELD. The guidelines are based on the established caselaw.

As the ELD deals with ‘pure ecological damage’, it is based on the powers and duties of public authorities. The authorities determine and assess the extent of environmental damage and agree with those responsible for the damage (or threat thereof) the preventive or remediation measures to be taken. The ELD does not cover criminal liability (see Environmental Crime Directive) or liability for traditional civil law damage which falls under national law (property damage, personal injury).

Operators carrying out dangerous activities listed in Annex III of the Directive fall under strict liability (no need to prove fault). Operators carrying out other occupational activities than those listed in Annex III are liable for fault-based damage to protected species or natural habitats. Establishing a causal link between the activity and the damage is always required.

Affected individuals and non-governmental organisations are entitled to notify designated public bodies of any environmental damage or imminent threat. They can challenge the action or inaction of a public body to prevent and remedy environmental damage.

The ELD imposes the following obligations on operators responsible for the damage (or immediate threat thereof) 

• prevention in case of an imminent threat of damage
• immediate limitation measures
• remediation measures, including primary, complementary and compensatory remediation

Primary remediation refers to any remedial measure that takes place at the affected site and returns the damaged natural resources and/or impaired services to the original condition. If primary remediation does not fully return the damaged site to its original condition, complementary remediation measures should be taken at another site possibly geographically linked to the damaged one. If full remediation is delayed, compensatory remediation measures should be taken for the interim loss of natural resources and services.

The ELD is implemented by the public bodies appointed by EU countries. Its implementation is supported by a group of ELD government experts who meet regularly with the European Commission to provide advice and coordinate ELD activities in individual countries.

22 November 2022 - Environmental Liability Directive 2023 Evaluation - study workshop

• Leaflet on the Environmental liability directive
• Brochure on the Environmental liability directive
• Questions and answers on the Environmental liability directive
• Summary of the Environmental liability directive

• Study - Facilitating enforcement of the ELD by competent authorities (2021) - Final Report and reports per Member State.
• Study - improving the implementation of the ELD and the evidence base (2021)
• Study - Financial Security for ELD Liabilities (2020) - view the Final Report and reports per Member State.
• Country Fiches – an overview on the implementation of the ELD in all Member States (2020)

Consult older studies

Main law: Environmental Liability Directive

Related topics: Marine and coastal environment, Air, Industrial emissions, Nature and biodiversity, Waste and recycling, Soil and land, Waste and recycling

Related strategies: Zero Pollution Action Plan, EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, EU soil strategy for 2030

Related Commission priorities: European Green Deal

Related networks: The European Union Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL)

For questions about EU environmental policy, contact Europe Direct.