The European Union Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL) is an international non-profit association of the environmental authorities of the European Union Member States, acceding and candidate countries of the EU, EEA and EFTA countries. IMPEL was set up in 1992 as an informal network of European regulators and authorities concerned with the implementation and enforcement of environmental law. In 2008, IMPEL was transformed into an international non-profit association under Belgian law.

The Network’s objective is to create the necessary impetus in the European Union to make progress on ensuring a more effective application of environmental legislation. The core of IMPEL’s activities takes place within a project structure and concerns awareness raising, capacity building, peer review, exchange of information and experiences on implementation, international enforcement collaboration as well as promoting and supporting the practicability and enforceability of European environmental legislation.

The Environment and Resources Authority is a member of the IMPEL and participates in the various Expert Teams and projects organised across the five thematic areas: Industry and Air; Waste and Transfrontier Shipment of Waste; Water and Land; Nature protection; and Cross-cutting tools and approaches.