Spring EL supports a some predefined variables
{#systemProperties. ... }{#systemEnvironment. ... }{#request
I also notice that environment resolves to the current org.springframework.core.env.Environment instance. I am not sure this is a documented feature, but I was looking for a concise way to do the following in my @Configuration class:
@Value("#{environment.acceptsProfiles('test')}")
private boolean test;
Which then allows me to switch off this value in further bean defintions.
I have submitted the following JIRA to address this issue:
https://jira.springsource.org/browse/SPR-9037