Ifølge et dokument fra GD XI, dateret den 10.04.1996, anser Kommissionen det for umuligt, at EU kan stramme sine miljøbestemmelser til det niveau, der gælder i de nye medlemsstater. Af dokumentet fremgår desuden, at det er uklart, om disse bestemmelser omfattes af muligheden for at anmode om fortsatte særbestemmelser, jf. artikel 100 A, stk.
A DG XI document dated 10 April 1996 reveals that the Commission considers it impossible for the EU to raise its environmental standards to match those which apply in the new Member States and that it is also not clear whether the provisions of Article 100a(4) regarding the possibility of continuing to apply special rules are applicable in this case.