Article 65: Environmental Protection
- The policies of the Community shall be implemented in a manner that ensures the prudent and rational management of the resources of the Member States. In particular, the Community shall promote measures to ensure:
(a) the preservation, protection and improvement of the quality of the environment;
(b) the protection of the life and health of humans, animals and plants; and
(c) the adoption of initiatives at the Community level to address regional environmental problems.
- In formulating measures in relation to the environment, the Community shall take account of:
(a) available and accessible scientific and technical data; (b) environmental conditions in the Member States;
(c) the potential costs and benefits of action or inaction;
(d) the economic and social development of the Community as a whole and the balanced development of the Member States;
(e) the precautionary principle and those principles relating to preventive action, rectification of environmental damage at source and the principle that the polluter pays; and
(f) the need to protect the Region from the harmful effects of hazardous materials transported, generated, disposed of or shipped through or within the Community.
- In performing its functions under this Treaty, COTED shall ensure a balance between the requirements of industrial development and the protection and preservation of the environment.
- In giving effect to this Article, the Community and the Member States shall, within their respective spheres of competence, co-operate with third States and competent environmental organisations.