The EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) is a management tool for companies and other organisations to evaluate, report and improve their environmental performance. To further promote the scheme, the European Commission's Directorate General Environment asked Ecologic and the Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW) to prepare a Conference as an important step in the promotion and development of EMAS.

The event takes places on 26-27 June 2002 in Brussels. It serves as a platform for exchanging views and best practices of EMAS in all sectors. The main objective is to identify the benefits for organisations to implement EMAS and to discuss the associated challenges and actions. A key consideration is how to implement further incentives and regulatory benefits in different sectors and settings. The intent is to exchange experiences with Accession Countries as well as regional and local actors. In addition the conference is an important platform to exchange views and best practices for EMAS marketing activities.