The use of voluntary approaches has gained significant momentum in the European Union over the last decade. To date, more than 300 of these schemes are in force in the different member states and their number is still increasing. Through a survey of the literature our paper tries to portray the use of voluntary approaches in the member states and to identify both their common characteristics and those that separate them. It appears that the most frequently used types of voluntary approach are environmental agreements that are negotiated between public and private bodies. The common characteristic of these negotiated agreements throughout the member states is that they set collective targets for industry. However, they differ in important ways in their linkage to the pre‐existing regulatory framework and thereby in the ways monitoring and enforcement are implemented. An assessment of effectiveness and efficiency is therefore difficult, also because available data are still scarce. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment

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This document, as well as any data and map included herein, are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or area. 2 │ ENV/WKP(2018)9 Unclassified OECD ENVIRONMENT WORKING PAPERS OECD Working Papers should not be reported as representing the official views of the OECD or of its member countries. The opinions expressed and arguments employed are those of the author(s). Working Papers describe preliminary results or research in progress by the author(s) and are published to stimulate discussion on a broad range of issues on which the OECD works. This series is designed to make available to a wider readership selected studies on environmental issues prepared for use within the OECD. Authorship is usually collective, but principal author(s) are named. The papers are generally available only in their original language-English or French-with a summary in the other language. Comments on Working Papers are welcomed, and may be sent to: OECD Environment Directorate 2 rue André-Pascal,

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