The Cardiff Process
28. The European Council is an important leadership
mechanism. It produces both decisions for implementation by other
Council formations and the Commission and conclusions which increase
policy ownership by Member States.
29. We acknowledge the complexity of environmental
integration at both a national and European level. We note the
progress which has been made to-date in the EU and the positive
impetus provided by the UK's Presidency. The Committee believes
that high level political leadership is vital in order to achieve
integration and urges the Government to ensure that integration
remains on the agenda over forthcoming presidencies.
30. The Committee supports the development of
sectoral integration strategies as envisaged by the Cardiff Council
Summit as a practical means of encouraging environmental policy
integration and achieving recognition of the issue at Heads
of Government level. The preparation of such strategies by all
Ministerial Councils is a key means of ensuring wide ownership
of the issue.
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