European Environment and Sustainable Development Advisory Councils

      network of advisory councils from several European countries established to promote the exchange of information and ideas on environmental and sustainable-development policies. Cooperation between the councils, which were independently created to provide expert advice and information to national or regional governments, began in 1993. Each council consists of members of the scientific and academic communities in a particular European country or region, as well as representatives of other interested organizations.

      The councils of the EEAC are official and statutory entities but are not part of any governmental agency. The individual members of each council are appointed according to the procedures established by the particular council. The EEAC is organized into working groups on issues of common interest or concern, including strategies for sustainable development, environmental policy, energy policy, agricultural policy, preservation of biological diversity, and management of coastal and marine environments. The EEAC holds annual conferences at which the recommendations of the working groups are presented and openly debated. Recommendations that are approved by a majority of the EEAC councils are submitted as formal statements or letters of advice to associated European governments.

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