The Agency has previously reported that despite more than 25 years of Community Environmental Policy – which has been successful in its own terms – general environmental quality in the EU is not recovering significantly, and in some areas, it is worsening. This present report confirms both that situation and the fact that the unsustainable development of some economic sectors is the major barrier to improvement. Up to now what has been missing has been an assessment of whether the actual economic, sectoral and environmental policies over the next decade or so will bring improvements, or whether there are trends and developments pushing us off target and seriously challenging substantial progress. This report, ‘Environment in the European Union at the turn of the century’ is designed to address this issue and provide information on current state and future trends of direct use for deciding on sound and effective measures to really improve and protect the environment, and to move towards more sustainable development (Amsterdam Treaty, Articles 2 and 6).