Others
Promoting a healthy and sustainable food system
The Commission will study and implement actions to further reduce or remove single-use items, particularly from catering, meetings and conferences. More generally, it will update its internal approach to food and catering, through embedding GPP criteria such as labels certifying sustainable food for the canteens.
The Commission will study and implement actions to further reduce or remove single-use items, particularly from catering, meetings and conferences. More generally, it will update its internal approach to food and catering, through embedding GPP criteria such as labels certifying sustainable food for the canteens.
Overall
The Covid pandemic severely disrupted catering services, with many restaurants and cafeterias closing. In 2023 the rebound in catering activity since Covid continued.
This is reflected in the table below which shows the quantities of 14 food types consumed at Commission sites' canteens since 2019. New categories (lamb, veal, fruits, vegetables, bread, pasta and rice) were introduced for reporting in 2023 to have a more complete picture.
Although 2024 saw a recovery, total consumption remained lower than the 2019 value. One reason for this is the reduction of the number of canteens after the Covid crises and the new ways of working.
Annual consumption of selected food groups in Commission cafeterias (tonnes)
| Food item | Factor kg CO2e/t | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| i) Beef | 33 770 | 82 | 24 | 4,1 | 21 | 25 | 22 |
| ii) Pork | 9 350 | 104 | 30 | 8,7 | 29 | 32 | 21 |
| iii) Chicken | 4 470 | 134 | 37 | 10 | 35 | 31 | 32 |
| iv) Fish | 10 970 | 90 | 27 | 11 | 26 | 41 | 40 |
| v) Milk | 1 490 | 75 | 25 | 10 | 26 | 85 | 28 |
| vi) Other dairy* | 8 960 | 37 | 12 | 8,8 | 20 | 58 | 39 |
| vii) Coffee | 9 400 | 19 | 8,7 | 8,6 | 6,6 | 21 | 7,3 |
| viii) Lamb | 40 204 | 15 | 16 | 4,1 | 5,6 | 36 | 24 |
| ix) Veal | 17 092 | 123 | 70 | 21 | 19 | 61 | 52 |
| x) Fruits | 589 | 32 | 30 | 8,7 | 8,8 | 19 | 70 |
| xi) Vegetables | 846 | 82 | 71 | 21 | 26 | 95 | 195 |
| xii) Bread | 689 | 11 | 8,2 | 3,1 | 3,5 | 8,7 | 40 |
| xiii) Pasta | 2 145 | 31 | 28 | 5,4 | 14 | 29 | 80 |
| xiv) Rice | 2 754 | 14 | 12 | 3,7 | 5,7 | 14 | 39 |
| Total | 848 | 399 | 128 | 245 | 556 | 692 |
Notes:* Average of yoghurt/butter
Data in the table above show that lamb and beef are the most carbon intensive food group and the proportion of both on the total has decreased from 11% in 2019 to 7% in 2024. The emissions generated by these food groups is illustrated below. Data is not reported for sites lacking a dedicated canteen (JRCs Petten, Karlsruhe, Seville).
Annual emissions of seven food groups (tonnes CO2e)
The current focus is to redevelop the cantine service with a new post pandemic delivery model. Improvements continue towards delivering a more sustainable service in the spirit of Brussels Capital Region's 'Good Food' label.
Given the quantities requested, the supply of organic or short circuit produce cannot be guaranteed within the framework of current supply contracts.
Restaurant management aims to minimise the production of food waste for example, vegetable leftovers are reused for soups or to produce chips for cafeterias. Friday dishes are designed at the last minute to empty the fridges. Environmental management of kitchens therefore remains an OIB priority.
For 2024, we could not export data from the invoice system (SUMMA) and the order system (Easylis) provided only partial data. Therefore, the supplied information will be revised in 2025.
A new contract features a dynamic purchasing system that encourages locally produced foodstuff to be used for catering in Luxembourg. The main supplier of fresh fruits and vegetables is a Luxembourgish company and the main fresh meat supplier is also based in Luxembourg. Within the terms of the framework contracts, OIL.04 selects as many organic ingredients as possible for preparing meals.
Given the increasing demand from clients, there are ongoing reflections on the way forward with a view of increasing the plant-based offer, in addition to the vegetarian dish which is offered daily in the canteens.
Throughout 2024, OIL.04's dietician staged onsite events that for example, promoted healthier products, vitamins or demonstrated how to reduce food waste, while aiming to improve eating habits by proposing meals with low environmental impact. An organic week was also organised.
In 2024, OIL catering continued its participation in ECOBOX, a multipurpose deposit-return scheme developed in Luxembourg for transporting meals (take-away, leftovers, etc.). This initiative reduces waste volume, by reducing not only the number of packages but also the quantity of food waste.
Continuous efforts were made to replace single use items with ceramic cups and glasses. However, for some large events, the weight of such equipment and the difficulties related to its handling make it difficult to use only 'environmental friendly' catering equipment.
Sustainable catering services have been offered at the JRC for a couple of years, when appropriate (in Ispra, the canteen is managed by the OIB and there is no canteen in Seville). For the sites without a canteen/cafeteria, efforts are mostly made for organised events.
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JRC Geel’s catering contract includes measures for a fair, healthy and sustainable food system. For instance, the caterer has a “biogarantie” certificate for a significant proportion of the products used, that should also be seasonal. JRC Geel proceeds with the sustainable food measures (water "fountains", glass bottles for beverages, provision of vegan, organic and fair trade desserts, 25% meat portion reduction, take-away available to reduce food waste, etc).
It also continues to offer two dishes daily (one vegetarian, the other either fish or meat) instead of three from pre Covid times. The CO2e emissions from catering at JRC Geel significantly increased in 2023 (75 menus/day) compared with 2022 (50 menus/day) or 2019 (80 menus/day). In 2024, a 10% reduction of CO2e emissions/2023 was observed (for around 85-90 menus/day).
- OIB manages the JRC Ispra site’s social infrastructures for staff: children’s facilities, temporary lodgings for EC staff, a clubhouse, as well as two canteens, a cafeteria, a restaurant and the banqueting service for conferences and events. In 2017 the process of eliminating single use plastic and single-serve food started. Water dispensers were installed and water jugs were provided to customers free of charge. In 2018, plastic was banned from take-aways and coffee breaks, containers and cutlery were replaced with compostable, biodegradable alternatives or reusable tableware where feasible. However, during Covid times, plastic takeaway had to be reintroduced. To reduce the impact of the whole catering services, there were some changes in the service set-up. At the same time, a greater number of plant-based meals has been implemented in the canteens: in 2024 more than 40% of the daily food served at the canteens did not contain any meat.
- JRC Karlsruhe operates a small cafeteria on its premises, but mainly uses the restaurant facilities of the surrounding research campus (KIT Campus Nord) whose catering practices it cannot influence directly.
- JRC Petten shares the canteen with neighbouring companies. Although JRC Petten participates financially in the catering contract, it is not possible to retrieve the data for JRC Petten staff. Therefore, JRC Petten is not reporting the data for catering/food.
- In JRC Seville, when setting up a catering service for events, service providers are systematically asked to include a declaration or statement on the sustainability of their services (see section 7.1.c).
The contractor is yet to provide the 2024 figures for food consumption. In 2022 the contractor, for IT reasons, also provided no data, so consumption was therefore estimated reproportioning the 2019 food consumption according to the staff's average monthly site presence on site in 2022 (24%).
Water use
The figure below shows that Brussels and JRC Ispra account for most of the water used. the Commission has reduced its total water consumption by 3% since 2022, and 32% since 2019. The reduction in water use is partly a by-product of some actions to reduce energy consumption, for example prolonged office closures when humidification of air is not required.
Water use at the EMAS sites, 2014-2024 (m3)
Water saving measures undertaken since 2015 include more proactive water management, installation of leak detection systems and loss prevention. Water saving devices (tap aerators) have been installed in most of the remaining buildings. Warmer temperatures during summer months may require more water for cooling and humidification.
Data for 2023 were corrected to replace estimations made for BECH, FISCHER and MERP with accurate data from invoices. Data for 2024 include estimations based on 2023 data as some invoices are not yet available. Late invoicing is a challenge for Luxembourg buildings especially for water; since January 2025 an alternative solution to record water consumption directly from water meters to have data on time, is being tested. The move to JMO2 will address this problem.
Water consumption shows a big decrease compared to 2023 values (8,3%) mainly due to vacating the MERCIER POST and LACCOLITH buildings. Target 2019-2030 for water use has been revised to a 40% reduction as previous target of 15% had already been reached. Measures to save drinking water include smart taps installed in most buildings while BECH and the new Mercier Post building have a rainwater collection system connected to sanitary infrastructure for flushing toilets etc.
- JRC Geel decreased its water use by around 30 % in 2024 compared to 2023.
- At the JRC Ispra, the use of “drinking water” decreased by about 39% between 2014 and 2024 and 4,4% between 2023 and 2024. Last year’s improvements are due to having corrected some specific situations where drinking water was used for cooling purposes and also to the identification and consequent repair of various leaks in the network. In 2024, modernization works began on the main water cycle facilities (pumping station, filtration and chlorination system) which in the coming years will lead to a further improvement in water management and a possible reduction in consumption. The action of increasing the metering devices, to have a better understanding of water flows, is on-going.
JRC Karlsruhe, a significant part of the water is used for the humidifying incoming air in the laboratory wings and the quantity depends on weather conditions. Cold and dry weather requires more humidification whereas other weather conditions may not require humidification at all.
Weather conditions since autumn 2019 often did not require significant humidification, which might be a result of climate change. Floor space is the main indicator for water use, which is largely determined by technical requirements and scientific activities.
- At JRC Petten, the water usage in 2024 increased by nearly 10%, and is heavily related to the scientific activities on site.
- In JRC Seville, the water trend remains steady. The decrease observed in 2023 can be partly attributed to a reduction in demand from the HVAC facility. The complexity and age of the installation make it difficult to control effectively. In addition, the building was not operational for approximately four days while major electrical infrastructure was replaced.
Water consumption in 2024 increased 22% compared to 2023. The main reason is the daily flushing of the whole water system, in order to control the presence of legionella (following a risk assessment and eradication measures introduced).
The low daily presence of staff and the age of the building and systems seem also contribute to the problem.
Total water use across all HoE sites shows a notable decrease from 3,048 m³ in 2019 to 2,143 m³ in 2024, reflecting improved efficiency or reduced occupancy.
Key observations:
- Valletta, Vienna, and Sofia consistently show the highest water consumption.
- Copenhagen and The Hague have the lowest usage throughout the period.
- Most sites show a downward trend in both per person (m³/p) and per area (l/m²) consumption, indicating stronger water efficiency practices.
- Notable reductions are seen in Budapest and Nicosia, with per area consumption dropping significantly.
- Sofia is the exception, with water usage rising again after 2021.
Overall, the trend suggests a collective effort to reduce water consumption across EU representation sites, with variations depending on local conditions and occupancy.
Drainage and wastewater disposal
The sites comprising mostly offices are in urban locations have drainage and connection to the municipal sewerage system. There are challenges for the more rural sites and particularly the research sites where some wastewater streams, especially from laboratories, are very strictly controlled.
Drainage and wastewater is managed within the urban collection and treatment facilities of the Brussels region.
DG ENER manages a radiation protection laboratory, requiring particular attention to wastewater disposal. DG ENER did not discharge any wastewater in 2024. Otherwise, drainage and wastewater for the Luxembourg buildings is managed by the urban collection and treatment facilities of the Luxembourg region. The installation of a green roof in the new Mercier Post building improves water management and reduces flood risk.
- JRC Geel is legally required to monitor its wastewater for both quantity and quality. Samples are analysed twice per year to ensure that concentrations of special parameters (including for example heavy metals, ) do not exceed the legally defined thresholds. Potentially nuclear contaminated water is treated and disposed as hazardous waste. The update of the site's environmental license resulted in stricter thresholds for special parameters (for example, it is ten times lower for mercury).
- The JRC Ispra site wastewaters include discharges produced by flush toilets (both from the internal JRC area and the social areas outside the fence) and discharges produced by the canteens, laboratory sinks, etc. On top of this, the JRC Ispra's wastewater treatment plant receives part of the urban wastewater from the Municipality of Ispra (about 23% of the overall amount in 2024). The treatment process includes a primary sedimentation phase followed by biological biodisc, secondary sedimentation and treatment by Ultraviolet (UV) rays. Treated wastewater is monitored to ensure compliance with the Italian threshold limits for water quality (during 2024 all the parameters are well below the Italian mandatory threshold limits) and is finally discharged in the Novellino stream (about 3,9 million cubic meters in 2024). A secondary sewer discharging system collects only rainwater and soil drainage and conveys them to the Acquanegra torrent, without the need for any preventive treatment processes.
- In JRC Karlsruhe, all wastewater is treated in the wastewater treatment plant belonging to the KIT Campus Nord before being released.
In JRC Petten, wastewater discharge and quality is measured yearly during a week determined by the authorities and during which the discharge volume is measured along with concentration of heavy metals, organic solvents and chlorides. The data collected is used as a basis for taxation.
For monitoring purposes, the site carries out two separate sampling campaigns a year at four emission points, each located in different laboratories. The results give an indication of whether concentrations comply with legal limits for end of pipe discharge for the site. JRC Petten discharges comply with the legal discharge limits.
- JRC Seville is hosted in a rented office building in an urban area. The wastewater installation is managed by the landlord in accordance with local legislation.
Until 2010 the site had its own sewage treatment plant, but due to technical issues it was decided to connect to the local sewage scheme. Discharges to water: Polluted discharges to ground and surface water are prevented by primary and secondary containment of all hazardous wastes and materials and substances on site. Discharges to sewer are from sanitary and cooking facilities. The kitchen sinks drain through a grease trap which is regularly serviced and emptied. Cleaning chemicals are low or non-hazardous and are diluted when applied.
The Houses of Europe are in urban areas, where they have regular drainage and connection to the municipal sewerage system and wastewater disposal.
Paper consumption
The Commission measures the consumption of paper in the office, and also in the printshops. Currently printshops are present only in Brussels, Luxembourg, Seville, Geel and Ispra. Total paper consumption has reduced considerably as shown below as a result of campaigns over the years including the introduction of digital signature circuits, the removal of individual printers and installation of 'smart' network printers, and the ability to work together on electronic documents.
A new digital strategy was launched in 2022. Mass printing of poster scale calendars has reduced and circulation of paper publicity materials is almost phased out. Nonetheless an increase in total paper consumption was observed in 2022 (please refer to the figure below, navigate to evolution of total paper consumption (tonnes) on this tab,) accounted for by higher printshop consumption, as office paper consumption continued to fall (figure Evolution of printshop paper consumption, navigate to this section on this tab,). Commission Office paper consumption has been 5 sheets/person/day or less since 2021 and nearly reached 4.2 sheets/person/day in 2021. Emissions due to paper consumption are presented in the figure Emissions from total paper consumption, navigate to this section on this tab,.
Evolution of total paper consumption (tonnes)
Evolution of printshop paper consumption (tonnes/person)
Office paper consumption (sheets/person/day)
Emissions from total paper consumption (tonnes CO2e)
In 2024 Paper consumption in Brussels remains stable and has significantly decreased since 2019, notably thanks to the transition of buildings to dynamic collaborative space (DCS) layout, the removal of individual printers, and the introduction of badge-secured printing. The paper used is EFC-certified, and its weight has been reduced by up to 70% (75g/m²).
In addition, the printshop’s operations have also evolved. Until 2023, printing was done using offset presses, which rely on ink containing numerous additives that penetrate the paper fibers, making the recycling process more complex. Since 2024, printing is carried out using a digital press with water-based ink, which is more environmentally friendly and healthier for users. Paper offcuts are also collected and returned to the supplier to be reintegrated into the recycling loop and transformed into pulp.
Before Covid, the workshop reached up to 44 million prints per year. Today, the average is around 17 million.
Beyond digitalisation, this reduction is also the result of a broader reflection by colleagues on the usefulness of certain printed products and printing methods. This includes the suppression of mass printing and of specific items such as notepads and paper calendars.
The quantity of paper printed by the printshop in Luxembourg for externals and other Institutions has been deducted from total print jobs. The values from 2019-2024 concerning printshop paper consumption have been corrected to include in-house print jobs for Commission use only. Target 2019-2030 for office paper use has been revised to 70% reduction as previous target of 55% had been reached. New target already reached, with one of the lowest indicators between Commission sites.
EMAS system costs (staff and contracts)
Mindful of that some staff were critical in the past of the perceived effort of implementing EMAS, the coordination team has for several years estimated its cost to the taxpayer in terms of staff time and the value of costs of related contracts for example for audits, and for expertise as shown in the figure below, navigate to EMAS system costs on this tab,.
The overall cost for the Commission has usually fluctuated between 67 and 91 EUR per staff member since the calculations were initiated. The cost is higher at smaller sites and very low in Brussels, where most staff are based.
EMAS system costs (staff and contracts)
Resource costs (energy)
Under EMAS, the cost of energy, water, and waste disposal have also been monitored at all the sites to show, over time, that efforts to reduce consumption translate into significant economic savings for the Commission and hence the European taxpayer.
Energy represents by far the largest cost on a per capita basis, energy costs almost doubled in 2022 following Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, and they remained high in 2023, before reducing considerably in 2024.
Resource costs (energy) at EMAS sites (EUR; EUR/person)
Legal compliance
Overall: Under EMAS, the sites are each responsible for legal compliance, as described below. But the Corporate coordination team organises the internal and external audits that are required at the sites under EMAS including ensuring that there is adequate follow up and resolution of audit findings, particularly those related to legal compliance. The audit results show that the Commission complies with the environmental legislation applicable to its activities.
The status of legal compliance is reported to the EMAS Steering Committee twice yearly, including statistics generated by the workflow tool (JIRA) that is used for audit follow up.
The figure below shows a summary of audit findings.
Audit findings by type for 2020-2024
The Commission adopts a sampling method for the verification audits of its premises in Brussels, Luxembourg, and for the Houses of Europe in Member States according to provisions of the EMAS Users Guide. Sampling is required at these sites because each building has its own environmental permit and there are too many to audit annually.
The Commission has around 70 operational buildings in Brussels and Luxembourg. These are controlled and managed centrally by the Infrastructure Offices in Brussels (OIB) and Luxembourg (OIL) which ensure their compliance with environmental legislation and contacts with the national and regional authorities. The Offices manage the licences and permit needed for building operation. The Commission's real estate portfolio varies from year to year. The buildings are listed in Annex 9, Open in this tab,.
The environmental impacts of these buildings are generally similar and with no highly impacting environmental aspect requiring a specific approach. Therefore, all the buildings are subject to the sampling method for auditing.
The Commission uses sampling to select five to six buildings per year (also listed in Annex 9, Open in this tab,), more than required in the User’s Guide, to provide greater confidence in audit results.
The sampling method ensures that each building entering in the scope is audited and that all buildings are audited in the same period. The audit sample is discussed and agreed with the verifier each year. In addition to audits carried out under the sampling method, additional visits (or audits) may be planned to buildings where a non-conformity was detected to verify that the remedial action was correctly executed.
In Brussels, each building has a licence called "permis environmental" containing the applicable environmental legislation for the building, including specificities when appropriate. In addition, general environmental legislation like the COBRACE is also implemented.
Several units within the OIB are registered users of the Regulation Monitoring contract REMO, launched by the European Parliament, for legislation relating to EMAS, technical equipment and persons with reduced mobility. This monitors new regulations, and enables the OIB (through emails and links to designated users) to be up-to-date on relevant legislation. The EMAS team at OIB performs an analysis of the new legislation and highlights its potential impacts, suggesting the course of action necessary to guarantee compliance.
As a consequence, the Brussels site complies with the relevant environmental legislation.
- Environmental Permits:
Procedure "OIL Bâtiments 04: Documentation OIL des autorisations d’exploitation des bâtiments - Version 2023" outlines the management of operating permits for classified facilities (commodo/incommodo) by OIL. Originally initiated in 2015, the procedure aimed to establish a centralized registry of operating permits for buildings occupied by the European Commission in Luxembourg, ensuring compliance with environmental requirements.
Procedure "OIL EMAS 01: Veille réglementaire environnementale - Version 2024" provides a framework for ensuring that property management aligns with environmental legislation by integrating new legal provisions. The regulatory monitoring concerning environmental, health, and safety laws, as well as accessibility for disabled individuals (PMR), for the European Commission in Luxembourg, is currently managed through framework contract HR/2023/LVP/0113 with Luxcontrol S.A., valid until 25/05/2027.
The contractor provides OIL with relevant environmental information and legislative updates monthly. Additionally, joint workshops with DG HR, OIL, and the contractor are held several times annually to review new legislation and decide on its inclusion in the regulatory monitoring. These sessions also explore potential actions in response to legislative changes. Environmental legislation is routinely reviewed using available official sources in Luxembourg. Information is systematically recorded by the OIL legal assistant with the use of an Excel register.
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Luxembourg mini audit procedure:
Procedure OIL EMAS 05 (2024 version) on documenting mini internal audits and regulatory compliance was initially introduced in 2022 to manage additional internal audits for legal compliance. These audits are based on documentary analyses of operating permits and recurring non-compliance issues. The initial procedure established a registry of operating permits for the Commission's buildings to ensure legal compliance. The 2024 version introduces a new audit schedule for upcoming years.
In 2024, buildings such as the DRB medical service, Mercier-Post, BECH technical installations, and DRB-E-2, which contain hazardous materials, have been mini-audited. Furthermore, a mini-audit on waste management was conducted for most buildings in January 2024, including DRB, EUFO, BECH offices, waste kitchens, T2, and CPEs Kirchberg and DRB-A.
Other procedures exist, for example for waste management (under revision) and for accidents and environmental incidents. Consequently, the Luxembourg site complies with the relevant environmental legislation.
- JRC Geel is a class 1 nuclear facility, subject to strict legislation from both the federal (Federal Agency for Nuclear Control - FANC) and Flemish (Openbare Afvalstoffen Maatschappij - OVAM; Vlaamse Milieu Maatschappij - VMM) authorities. To operate, JRC Geel holds both a nuclear and an environmental license, which define the legal framework for its activities. To stay compliant with legal requirements and track legislative changes, the site has established a nuclear registry (PHARIUS) and an environmental registry (ARCALEX), managed by the Health and Physics service (HPS) and the EMAS Site Coordinator, respectively. Each registry outlines the legal obligations for relevant site activities and is regularly updated. Environmental legal compliance is ensured through the procedure IMS-GEE-S6.6-PRO-0007 Management of Environmental Legal Compliance JRC-Geel. Changes in legislation are communicated to all stakeholders (staff, contractors, etc.) before they take effect. Environmental control measures, including inspections and both internal and external audits, are implemented to verify and ensure ongoing compliance with legal requirements ate the JRC Geel site. The environmental authorities also conduct occasional legal inspections, such as the one carried out in 2024 on the cooling installation.
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According to the Site Agreement, Italian Law 906/1960, JRC Ispra is fully implementing the Italian legislation regarding nuclear prescriptions and is applying under a voluntary basis (and under its own responsibility) environmental prescriptions to its other activities. JRC Ispra has developed a dedicated strategy to issue internal environmental authorisations that are technically equivalent to those issued by Italian Authorities (e.g., water treatment plant, old and new trigeneration plant).
This approach has been shared with the Italian EMAS Competent Body. The site maintains a transparent official communication with all relevant stakeholders, for example regarding tri-generation emissions’ threshold values, which was ensured by means of the overall emission in terms of mass flow for CO and NOx, assuming the continuous operation of the plant for the entire year. Several actions were carried out to limit the trigeneration plant emissions and the construction of a new one has been completed. In 2025, the new plant will be switched on, and simultaneously the old one will be shut down.
A formal agreement was signed with Ispra Municipality, ATO and Alfa srl in 2024 to regulate the treatment of wastewater coming from Ispra territory within the JRC Ispra site wastewater treatment plant. This agreement will last until the end of 2027 and foresees a reimbursement for the expenses incurred by the JRC. Several tools are currently in place to ensure appropriate legal compliance; checks are performed continuously throughout the Ispra site. The EMAS team on site performs an annual analysis of the new legislations and highlights its potential impacts, suggesting the course of action necessary to guarantee compliance. As a consequence, JRC Ispra complies with the environmental legislation applicable to its activities.
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JRC Karlsruhe is a nuclear installation under German legislation and as such is bound by a tight regulatory framework under the Atomic Energy Act (Atomgesetz, last updated in July 2018), the Radiation Protection Act (Strahlenschutzgesetz, last updated in December 2019) and the respective Radiation Protection Ordinance (Strahlenschutzverordnung, latest version December 2018).
The nuclear licences and amendments governing JRC Karlsruhe’s operations are publicly available on the internet pages of the Ministerium für Umwelt, Klima und Energiewirtschaft Baden Württemberg (Ministry of the Environment, Climate Protection and Energy Sector). Applicable regulations are listed and assessed in the Legal Register IMS-KRU-S6.5-RGS-0007-DE, which was created in cooperation with an external company, who also provide an update twice a year (most recently in February 2025).
In order to assess legal compliance, the site commissioned an external company to undertake legal compliance audits annually. The latest internal audit encompassing legal compliance took place in November 2024. Due to this, and owing to constant surveillance by the authorities, JRC Karlsruhe is compliant to all relevant legislation. There have been no legal proceedings against the site and consequently neither penalties nor fines since operations started.
- JRC Petten is complying with the dutch Activities Decree (Activiteitenbesluit) and the Activities Regulations (Activiteitenregeling) containing environmental regulations. The Activities Decree has different rules for different types of businesses and makes a distinction between companies of types A, B and C. JRC Petten is a type C business, requiring an All-in-one Permit for physical aspects. The Environmental Permit was obtained on 24 June 2016. Permit compliance is checked annually. The site has a contract with an external legal consultancy filtering the applicable legislation in an online tool. JRC Petten is compliant with the relevant environmental legislation.
- JRC Seville legal compliance is regularly checked against a legal register provided by a specialised Company. Based on this register, the activity of the JRC Seville is excluded from the obligation of obtaining an environmental permit according to the relevant regulation “Ordenanza Reguladora de Obras y Actividades del Ayuntamiento de Sevilla. Nevertheless, the site is compliant with all the relevant environmental legislation such as the “Real Decreto 390/2021” on energy labelling for buildings and “Ley 7/2022” on waste management.
Through the above measures, the JRC sites comply with the environmental legislation.
As Grange operates as office premises there are no specific licences or permits required (see more information at http://www.pointofsinglecontact.ie/licensing/licences%20-%20permits/, Open in a new tab)
A procedure for maintaining the legal register has been in place since late 2014. The Register of Environmental Legislation is reviewed and updated continually by an external consultancy. The responsible DG SANTE personnel receive automatic email updates relating to new or changing legislation and ensure that there is appropriate follow up.
As a consequence, the Grange site complies with the relevant environmental legislation.
The Representations, acting on behalf of the respective House of Europe, have outsourced the setup and maintenance of the environmental legal compliance register to local external consultants, who conduct a compliance assessment.
Embarking on the journey towards EMAS certification often reveals initial legal gaps for the Houses of Europe. Due to their embassy-like status, routine local inspections may be less frequent. However, EMAS participation implies a commitment to full legal compliance. While achieving this goal may take time, depending on the issue, experience shows that full compliance is attainable within a few years. An initial hurdle that Houses of Europe may encounter is securing the advice of a qualified legal expert.
Prevention and risk management
OIB records statistics relating to the findings of buildings inspections for health, safety and environment. These audits and inspections are based on permits and legal requirements for each building and technical installation.
Out of 1 816 reports issued in 2024, 680 (37%) had no remarks (OK status), while 649 (36%) stated minor (urgent to address) and 487 (27%) major non-conformities (urgent to address as soon as possible).
The procedure "OIL 01 EMAS 04 Environmental Accidents and Incidents – 2022 Version" details the process through which the EC identifies and responds to environmental emergencies and incidents. Its goal is to ensure the execution of proper measures and to investigate any potential adverse environmental impacts. In 2024, this procedure began undergoing revisions to align with new environmental legislation in Luxembourg. This update includes the creation of a register for minor incidents, such as oil leaks in parking lots. Additionally, OIL has developed "Instruction OIL SST 23: Weather Vigilance and Alerts," which focuses on flood risk management and is currently under review.
- At JRC Geel, prevention and risk management are overseen by HPS. The site operates under an Occupational Health & Safety Management System certified to ISO 45001 standards. As a Class 1 nuclear facility, JRC-Geel also meets the legal requirement by maintaining a voluntary on-site fire brigade for first response, supported by the local fire department. This internal brigade conducts monthly training exercises on-site and undergoes annual training at a professional firefighting centre. To ensure the reliability of all critical systems and equipment, the site implements comprehensive preventive and risk management measures, along with a full maintenance and inspection program. Regular nuclear and EMAS inspections are conducted to assess and ensure legal compliance.
The JRC Ispra site, is covered by relevant emergency procedures and the site's Emergency and Business Continuity Plan and associated procedures and instructions, providing the framework for both nuclear and conventional emergencies, including incidents that could have a negative impact on the environment (both on and off site).
The procedure for the management of emergency exercises and the planning of emergency exercises and drills has been updated in 2021 to account for all the applicable environmental scenarios, including spillage and release of hazardous substances.
In 2013, JRC Ispra detected the presence of fuel oil in the ground close to Via Esperia during one of its periodical checks. This originated from a leak from two old underground storage tanks that had been used to store fuel oil for heating the residences within the JRC social area. The tanks and surrounding layers of the soil were removed. However, a minor presence of fuel oil was detected in the neighbouring areas both under Via Esperia, and in the premises of a JRC Ispra car park. The Italian authorities were informed about this legacy and regularly updated, including through the JRC Ispra EMAS Round Table meetings.
Although JRC Ispra's risk analysis indicated that the residual presence of fuel oil was under the mandatory intervention threshold, the site opted for the best environmental approach and initiated the corresponding soil removal procedure in 2022, including supplying preliminary information to the competent authorities.
At the end of 2023 the Municipality of Ispra called a Conferenza dei Servizi to approve the removal plan (best solution for the clearance). JRC duly carried this out in 2024. At the time of writing, documentation expected by the competent bodies is close to finalization.
- In JRC Karlsruhe, as an installation subject to German nuclear legislation, the entire site and its activities are conceived and operated with a focus on prevention, risk management and emergency preparedness. The applicable legislation requires these topics explicitly. Procedures are therefore based on and tailored to this legislation. Significant procedures have to be approved by the supervising authority (Ministry of the Environment, Climate Protection and Energy Sector of Baden-Worttemberg) before becoming effective. The supervisor undertakes inspection visits regularly.
- JRC Petten applies risk-based management for safety and environmental aspects, workplace assessments, general risk inventories and risk assessments for specific tasks.
- Since 2010, JRC Seville has not recorded any health, safety or environmental incidents. An external prevention service maintains an occupational safety and health (OHS) register.
The site implements a programme of environmental incident prevention based on its evaluation of environmental aspects and impacts, and on the identification of potential emergency conditions or abnormal incidents related to each aspect.
- The EC Representations are responsible for managing the emergency preparedness and response processes within the Houses of Europe. They develop annual local contingency and business continuity plans, which consider potential aspects that can eventually lead to emergency situations, including environmental impacts. These plans are aligned with the corporate guidelines and national regulations. They are integrated as part of the local security and safety plans. The Representations also contribute to an annual health and safety report prepared by DG COMM.
- Physical tests and exercises, such as fire emergency drills, as well as business continuity tests are conducted on a regular basis in the Houses of Europe. At a central level, the Commission’s DG COMM (sector COMM.D.2.001 - Security and Business Continuity) and the Parliament’s DG SAFE coordinate safety and security procedures in Representations and EPLOs, respectively. No emergency occurred in 2024 in the seven Houses of Europe.
Emergency preparedness
Beyond the procedures and services in place at the European Commission concerning emergency preparedness and response related to health, safety and security incidents at work (24/7 helpdesk line 22222), the OIB monitors the application of the legislation on well-being at work, in particular the evaluation of risks and corrective measures with an impact on the environment. Summary data for 2024 includes:
- number of evacuation exercises: 50
- training and recycling SIN (sécuriste industriel): 135 people received training and 856 colleagues completed their recycling training
- training and recycling ECI (équipiers chefs d'intervention): 239
- training and recycling STE (stewards): 449
- Given the growing demand, the SIPP (Service interne de prévention et protection) department aims to increase the number of SIN training sessions, with the goal of training 225 people per year compared to the current 150. Basic Prevention Advisor training sessions are also planned for colleagues, along with information sessions on evacuation procedures, which have already been conducted in several buildings.
OIL.02_SST ensures the coordination and proper implementation of the fire prevention policy in buildings and the health and safety of its employees in all aspects related to their work. Summary data for 2024 includes:
- 16 evacuation exercises were carried out on all buildings in Luxembourg.
- 47 sessions (23 theory + 24 practical) of EPI and ECI training for 412 (203 theory + 209 practical) participants.
- 12 sessions of fire prevention training for 76 participants.
- 9 sessions of first aid training for 77 participants.
- In JRC Geel, emergency preparedness and response is managed by HPS according to the procedure IMS-GEE-S6.5-MAN-0002 JRC-Geel Site Internal Emergency Plan and the JRC Geel incident response plan. As a class 1 nuclear facility, JRC Geel has, besides its fire brigade team, 24 hour on call teams ( Technical and Nuclear Intervention Groups (TIG, NIG) who answer and act in case of alarms on potential incidents.
- In 2024, mandatory nuclear emergency exercises and building evacuation tests for the JRC Ispra site were duly carried out. The preparedness of the Ispra site and the Italian authorities to respond to nuclear emergencies, the annual nuclear full-scale emergency exercise was tested in February 2024 in the presence of local and national authorities. An emergency exercise was held to test the emergency preparedness in Area 40. The outcome of each exercises was positive.
- In JRC Karlsruhe, some practical examples demonstrating the rigour with which legal compliance and emergency preparedness are addressed:
- All safety and security relevant equipment and installations are subject to stringent recurring check programs, which are also under the supervision of the commissioned experts of the supervising authority;
- The site operates its own semi-professional firefighting team and cooperates with the professional fire brigade of the surrounding research site (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, (KIT);
- Firefighting and evacuation exercises are regularly carried out, partially in cooperation with the fire brigade of the KIT;
- Most technical works are subject to a working permit procedure;
- The admission to the site is strictly limited.
- In JRC Petten, the organisation's emergency plans are based on emergency scenarios. They are based risk management methodologies and cover environmental risks. In 2024, 10 Emergency Drills took place to practice and test all elements of the emergency plans. Contacts with the local quick response team (QRT, formerly fire brigade, operated by the neighbour organisation NRG) have been established in order to identify environmental risks.
- In JRC Seville, the site has a specific emergency procedure describing the methodology used at local level to identify and respond to potential accidents and emergencies that could affect staff, facilities and the environment. A fire drill is organised every year and an Environmental accident drill was performed in 2024.
Last update of the Emergency Plan was in June 2023, but a fire drill took place in June 2024.
The Representations are responsible for managing the emergency preparedness and response processes within the Houses of Europe. They develop annual local contingency and business continuity plans, which consider potential aspects that can eventually lead to emergency situations, including environmental impacts. These plans are aligned with the corporate guidelines and national regulations. They are integrated as part of the local security and safety plans. The Representations also contribute to an annual health and safety report prepared by DG COMM.
Physical tests and exercises, such as fire emergency drills, as well as business continuity tests are conducted on a regular basis in the Houses of Europe. At a central level, the Commission’s DG COMM (sector COMM.D.2.001 - Security and Business Continuity) and the European Parliament’s DG SAFE coordinate safety and security procedures in Representations and EPLOs, respectively.
No emergency situation occurred in 2024 in the seven Houses of Europe