This reports focuses on a handful of natural resources: fisheries, forestry, water, fossil fuels, metals and construction minerals, and land use. It examines the driving forces of resource consumption: population and economic growth; and the pattern of development, covering technological level, economic structure and the pattern of production and consumption. European patterns of resource use are described, in both renewable and non-renewable resources. The policy responses are outlined, including the environmental impact of the important common agricultural policy, the common fisheries policy, regional development and transport and energy policies. There is a need for more policy integration to develop a coherent and efficient policy for ensuring a more sustainable use of resources. A final section on outstanding questions illustrates the problem of differing priorities amongst the various stakeholders, and presents some of the important and controversial issues which have emerged in the debate in recent years.