During the 1990s its relatively low importance led to its being referred to unfavourably by MEPs as the "Cinderella committee". However, since then the committee's powers have increased. The co-decision procedure for legislation, which grants greater powers to the Parliament, has been extended to more policy areas. Notably, the areas covered by this committee were the main recipients of these new powers. The rising importance of the issues it deals with (for example, global warming) has also meant that it has become one of the most important committees in Parliament. The committee's open sessions, as well as constituting a major forum within the Parliament, are usually well attended by both business lobbyists and representatives from environmental NGOs.[2]
(b) air, soil and water pollution, waste management and recycling, dangerous substances and preparations, noise levels and the protection of biodiversity,
(c) sustainable development,
(d) international and regional measures and agreements aimed at protecting the environment,
^[1] List of Members of the ENVI Committee of the European Parliament
^Hoskyns, Catherine; Michael Newman (2000). Democratizing the European Union: Issues for the twenty-first Century (Perspectives on Democratization. Manchester University Press. ISBN978-0-7190-5666-6.
^[2] Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament, ANNEX V: POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF STANDING COMMITTEES
^Corbett, Richard; Jacobs, Francis; Neville, Darren (2016), 'The European Parliament' (9 ed.), London: John Harper Publishing, ISBN 978-0-9934549-5-0.
