Environmental Agreements are made between partners to improve environmental performance. Voluntary Environmental Agreements (VEAs) are between any two partners, whereas Negotiated Environmental Agreements (NEAs) are made with public authorities and often linked with government targets.

These agreements are a new 'instrument' in bringing environmental improvements that are less cumbersome than regulation and less costly than taxes.

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VEAs are seen as an instrument that can be finely tuned, quick to set up and that achieve environmental objectives at lower costs.

The European Commission see Environmental Agreements as important voluntary instruments to complement law.

There is Commission Communication on Environment Agreements that spells out guidelines to encourage these agreements - without producing strict regulations.

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