The precautionary principle is one of the fundamental principles of the European Union governing policies related to the environment, health and food safety. To achieve a better understanding of the application of the precautionary principle in European policy Ecologic advised the Institut du développement durable et des relations internationales (IDDRI) in the framework of the project "European Precautionary practice".

This paper analyses to what extent the new EC Directive on Environmental Liability sets an incentive for the potentially liable parties to invest in measures to minimise risk and through a system of strict liability triggers precautionary measures that go beyond the existing legal requirements. The paper is available for download.