▁Therefore , ▁the ▁European ▁Union ▁increased ▁progress ively ▁its ▁power ▁over ▁the ▁years , ▁mainly ▁by ▁a ▁series ▁of ▁am end ments ▁to ▁the ▁Tre aty ▁of ▁Rome ▁and ▁the ▁increase ▁of ▁its ▁EU ▁bodies ' s ▁influence ▁over ▁individual ▁Member ▁States . ▁▁ ▁The ▁EU ▁environmental ▁policy ▁is ▁a ▁shared ▁compet ence ▁between ▁the ▁Union ▁and ▁Member ▁States : ▁the ▁Member ▁States ▁are ▁able ▁to ▁exercise ▁their ▁compet ence ▁only ▁if ▁the ▁Union ▁has ▁not ▁already ▁exerc ised ▁its ▁compet ence . ▁ ▁EU ▁ordinary ▁legisl ative ▁procedure ▁ ▁Based ▁on ▁the ▁ordinary ▁legisl ative ▁procedure , ▁the ▁EU ▁Council ▁( formed ▁of ▁the ▁leader ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 8 ▁Member ▁States ) ▁can ▁propose ▁suggestions ▁of ▁environmental ▁legisl ation ▁to ▁the ▁European ▁Commission , ▁who ▁has ▁the ▁exclusive ▁right ▁to ▁propose ▁new ▁environmental ▁policies ▁to ▁the ▁European ▁Parliament ▁( direct ly - elect ed ▁body ) ▁and ▁the ▁Council ▁of ▁the ▁EU ▁( made ▁of ▁Member ▁States ' ▁environment ▁Minister s ). ▁After ▁they ▁received ▁the ▁proposal , ▁the ▁European ▁Parliament ▁and ▁the ▁Council ▁of ▁the ▁EU ▁follow ▁the ▁co - dec ision ▁procedure ▁and ▁ ▁review ▁the ▁proposal ; ▁they ▁can ▁either ▁reject , ▁am end ▁or ▁appro ve ▁the ▁proposal . ▁If ▁approved , ▁the ▁European ▁Commission ▁has ▁the ▁responsibility ▁to ▁ensure ▁the ▁implementation ▁of ▁the ▁environmental ▁legisl ation ▁by ▁Member ▁States . ▁ ▁European ▁Environment ▁Agency ▁ ▁The ▁European ▁Environment ▁Agency ▁( EE A ) ▁was ▁created ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 4 ▁and ▁is ▁a ▁European ▁ag