Fact Sheet: European Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of environmental Law (IMPEL) Cluster Transfrontier shipment of waste (TFS)

 

 

Date of establishment 1992 (informal network)
2008 (formal association)
Legal basis Belgian Royal Decree No 6/CH/15.598/S
Objective
  • Promote compliance with the European Waste Shipment Regulation Nº 1013/2006 through enforcement;
  • Carry out joint enforcement projects;
  • Promote exchange of knowledge, best practices and experience with the enforcement of the Regulation 1013/2006;
  • Stimulate a uniform enforcement of the EU Regulation 1013/2006.
Nature IMPEL is an international non-profit association; TFS cluster is an informal forum/network within that association
Membership Any national, regional or local authority which is competent for the implementation or enforcement of EU environmental law can join IMPEL, provided that the authority is based in a Member State of the European Union, in an acceding or candidate country of the European Union, in an EEA or EFTA country or in a potential candidate country to join the European Union. As of July 2012 IMPEL has 33 member countries, that each have nominated a National Coordinator. At national level, the TFS cluster communicates through, and works with, National Contact Points (NCPs). As of July 2012 29 NCPs have been appointed.
Observers Meetings of the IMPEL TFS Steering Committee are closed. Annual meetings of the NCPs and the conference of the TFS cluster are open to observers upon invitation.
Geographical scope European and specific cooperation with non-European partners
Substantive scope Waste falling within the scope of the European Waste Shipment Regulation; the European Waste Shipments Regulation implements the provisions of the Basel Convention, the Ban Amendment and the OECD Decision C(2001)107 at an EU level.
Governance structure The Steering Committee of the TFS cluster is composed of representatives from seven member countries and monitors the progress of the activities carried out by the cluster. The chair of the Steering Committee is part of the IMPEL Board. The IMPEL Board is the executive body of the Association responsible for the management of the Association and the implementation of the decisions of the General Assembly. The General Assembly is the highest authority of the Association. The General Assembly determines the policy of the Association and decides on the budget, working programmes, projects proposals and project reports. IMPEL members in one country designate a national IMPEL Coordinator who represents them in the General Assembly.
Cooperation Cooperation among members and with other stakeholders as needed e.g. Secretariat of the Basel Convention, BCRCs ; Asian Network; INTERPOL; WCO; INECE etc. (See separate fact sheets)
Activities Core activities concern awareness raising, capacity building, exchange of information and experiences on implementation and enforcement, and international enforcement collaboration.
IMPEL TFS cluster holds an annual conference. Projects under the umbrella of the cluster organise regular project meetings.
IMPEL TFS Prosecutors Project (2012):
The objectives are to:
  • Stimulate and strengthen the start of a platform or (informal) network of prosecutors in Europe involved in the prosecution of environmental crime with a special focus on the WSR 1013/2006.
  • Exchange relevant case law, prosecution information like the level of fines, working methods, prosecution approach, interpretation and practical experiences.
  • Inform participants on new developments within the compliance of the Basel Convention and WSR enforcement.
  • Explore the possibility to set up an interactive database of environmental case law including (translated) national case law and jurisprudence (e.g. EUR-Lex).
(http://impel.eu/projects/impel-tfs-prosecutor-project/)
Source of funding Membership fees, the European LIFE+ fund and voluntary contributions.
Contact information IMPEL TFS cluster Secretariat (Ms. Nancy Isarin)  nancy.isarin@ambiendura.com
Website http://impel.eu/cluster-2/