Brussels, 21/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - EU27 environment ministers are clamouring for a 7th Environment Action Programme (EAP) that is sufficiently ambitious and concrete to take over from the 6th programme to expire at the end of 2012, but the European Commission is not prepared to accept this. Or at least it considers the decision on this subject to be premature, preferring to carry out a detailed assessment of the results of the action programme underway (2002-2012) before taking a stance. Janez Potoènik, Environment Commissioner, explained this to the ministers in Brussels on Monday 20 December. Ministers, however, persist and sign. They are also calling on the Commission to develop a second action plan in favour of the environment and health as soon as possible.
In unanimous conclusions on improving environmental policy instruments - a theme dear to outgoing President Joke Schauvliege - the Environment Council considers the final assessment of the 6th EAP provides an opportunity to take stock of progress made since 2002 but also to examine the main challenges to be raised in the context of environment policy. Also, the Commission is invited to use this assessment to best advantage in order to present an ambitious vision for EU environmental policy on the road to 2050, which clearly defines priorities as well as achievable objectives, comprises concrete objectives and a realistic timetable for 2020. It will be appropriate to improve consistency with the EUROPE 2020 strategy, and especially its flagship initiative on a resource-efficient Europe, sustainable development strategy, biodiversity strategy, and the environment and health strategy, the Council says. The 7th EAP should also work towards better integration of environmental issues in other policies (agriculture, fisheries, transport, energy, industry, trade, development and research), promoting the emergence of and the transition to a green economy.
Among action priorities, the Council cites climate change, biodiversity, effective and sustainable use of resources, the urban environment, prevention and the reduction of environmental pollution, improved quality of life and human health.
The Council underlines the importance of promoting eco-innovation especially via norms likely to promote speedier market acceptance. It also recommends improving common environmental information systems, encourage use of market instruments, and improve implementation of environmental legislation. The 27 also call for environmental policy to be given adequate funding.
Commissioner Janez Potoènik said they were not against an action plan but that they must keep to their mandate under the terms of the treaty and learn from the 6th action programme. He underlined the need to focus on the most essential proposals, such as that on the effective use of resources, and then went on to add that a longer term and far more strategic perspective is needed to change behaviour and transform the economy systematically. At this stage, he said, he would prefer to focus on substance rather than on the form of plans and future programmes. Ministers did not find his argument convincing. (A.N./transl.jl)