EU authorities' environmental spending analysed

Public authorities in the 25 countries that now make up the EU spent €51bn on environmental protection in 2002, according to EU statistical agency Eurostat. The latest in its statistics in focus series also reports spending on waste and wastewater treatment, which in some countries remains a public activity.

Most public sector environmental spending in Europe is for administration, though just over one quarter was classed as waste management in 2002. The total equates to 0.5% of EU-25 GDP, or €112 per capita.