PRINCIPLES IN THE SPHERE OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IN THE EU

The article is devoted to the analysis of principles in the field of environmental protection in the EU. The First (1973–1977) and Second (1978–1982) environmental programs were analyzed. It was determined that the achievement of a continuous and balanced development of the EU would be impossible without an effective EU environmental strategy. Among the principles of EU policy in the field of environmental protection, certain principles can be singled out, namely: focus on pollution prevention and prevention; abandonment of nature use, which violates the ecological balance; taking into account certain features of all EU member states; taking into account the inter-boundary features of the protection of certain natural resources and preventing damage that may be inflicted to another state and others. It is determined that the EU environmental policy is based on the principles set out in the Treaty establishing the European Community, namely prevention; taking precautionary measures; correction of harm caused by the environment, first of all eliminating its sources; the polluter must pay. The provisions of the 7th Environment Action Programme to 2020 «Living well, within the limits of our planet» are taken into account, and analyzed the priority objectives of the EU, as well as the principles on which the protection of the environment of the EU is based. The 7th Action Program is based on the principle of prevention, as well as the principles of preventive action, the elimination of contamination in the source and the cost of the pollutant. Some features of adaptation of the Ukrainian legislation to the EU legislation, in connection with the signing of the Association Agreement between Ukraine, on the one hand, and the European Union, the European Atomic Energy Community and their member states, on the other hand, have been identified.