The European Commission said it welcomed the agreement between the European Parliament and Council on the Environmental Liability Directive. It said the agreement would allow the proposal to be quickly adopted.
The new directive is the first to be based on the on the "polluter pays principle", said the Commission.
It said it would ensure that future environmental damage in the EU was prevented or remedied and that those who caused it would be held responsible.
The Commission said the most important amendment to the directive related to the issue of financial guarantees, whose use is only voluntary under the directive.
It has been agreed that the Commission will review the financial guarantees six years after the directive comes into force, and will consider the following aspects: a gradual approach in developing possible mandatory financial security, a ceiling for liability and the exclusion of low risk activities from mandatory insuring.
In the light of its findings, and of an extended impact assessment, the Commission will decide whether to submit proposals for a system of harmonised mandatory financial security.
