The DG's main role is to initiate and define new environmental legislation and to ensure that measures, which have been agreed, are actually put into practice in the
member states of the European Union. The overall mission statement for 2005 is: "Protecting, preserving and improving the environment for present and
future generations, and promoting sustainable development". The mission statement is divided into the following sub-statements: • To maintain and improve the quality of life through a high level of protection of our
natural resources, effective
risk assessment and management and the timely implementation of
Community legislation. • To foster
resource efficiency in production, consumption and waste-disposal measures. • To integrate environmental concerns into other EU policy areas. • To promote growth in the EU that takes account of the economic, social and environmental needs both of our citizens and of future generations. • To address the global challenges facing us notably
combating climate change and the international conservation of
biodiversity. • To ensure that all policies and measures in the above areas are based on a multi-sectoral approach, involve all
stakeholders in the process and are communicated in an effective way. ==Structure==