It is widely recognised that our environment is instrumental to our well-being, with various related ecosystem services providing important aspects linked to our healthy, economy and society.

In 2004, the European Union introduced the new legislation establishing, for the first time in the EU, a comprehensive liability regime for damages to the environment, based on the ‘polluter-pays’ principle.

The polluter-pays principle is based on the fact that those that have caused environmental damage should be liable for remediation of damage, the so-called polluter-pays principle.

Additional Information and Links:

• National Regulations 
• Environmental Damage
• Criteria on Environmental Damage
• Remedying of Environmental Damage
• Environmental Liability Directive
• Prevention and Remedying of Environmental Damage Regulations
• EU’s ELD Website
• Information Factsheet 
• Summary of the Environmental Liability Directive
• Brochure
• ELD Training Material
• Malta’s Implementation Report
• Questions and Answers on the Environmental Liability Directive
• Read more about Environmental Liability