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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION HAS BECOME A MATTER OF GLOBAL IMPORTANCE BUT ALSO A NATIONAL PRIORITY, THE EFFORT TO ENSURE THE QUALITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT PROVING TO BE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS FOR ENSURING SOCIAL WELFARE AND ONE OF THE MOST COMPLEX EFFECTS THAT PROPAGATE IN THE ECONOMY AND IN SOCIAL LIFE. STRENGTHENING ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE EFFORT TO BUILD A FISCAL AND A FINANCIAL POLICY, AND TO BROADEN THE SPECTRUM OF THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO DETERMINE THE MIX OF ECONOMIC INSTRUMENTS THAT CAN BE USED AND THE AVAILABLE SOURCES. DEVELOPING FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION POLICY INVOLVES NOT ONLY ACCESS TO FUNDS, BUT ALSO AN EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT IN THE FIELD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION STRATEGY AT NATIONAL LEVEL SHOULD BE BASED ON PRINCIPLES, CONCEPTS AND INSTRUMENTS REFLECTING THE ROLE AND PLACE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY IN THE OVERALL STATE POLICY, THE POSSIBILITIES AND PRIORITIES IN THE SHORT AND LONG TERM, THE SPECIFICITY AND THE MAGNITUDE OF THE POLLUTION PROBLEMS AT THE MOMENT OF ITS ESTABLISHMENT. IN ORDER TO OPERATIONALIZE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY, THE ECONOMIC INSTRUMENTS (TAXES, SUBSIDIES, CONSIGNMENT SYSTEMS, ENVIRONMENTAL LETTERS OF CREDIT, NEGOTIABLE POLLUTION PERMITS) ACT TO INTERNALIZE EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS (EXTERNALITIES), TO CORRECT THE PRICE LEVELS AND TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE RESPONSIBLE USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES, THE POLLUTION LEVEL AND THE ACTIVE AND EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT OF WASTE. IN THIS RESPECT, CLEAR ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES WILL BE ADOPTED TO SET UP A SYSTEM OF INCENTIVES AND INSTRUMENTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SPENDING WILL FOCUS ON THOSE PROJECTS THAT PROVIDE THE HIGHEST COST-BENEFIT RATIO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the progress in some areas, Europe continues to face important environmental challenges, but also opportunities to make the environment more resistant to risk and change. Protecting natural capital by encouraging efficient use of resources and accelerate the transition to low carbon economy are key features of the Seventh Environment Action Programme. The results should help to boost sustainable growth and create new jobs to turn into a European space that is comfortable for its inhabitants. Achieving effectively environmental policy objectives implies and requires substantiation, development and implementation of tools and programs to stimulate the society concerns to prevent or limit environmental imbalances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]