Brussels, 04/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - It is a country still traumatised by the scandal of the red toxic mud which is taking over the rotating presidency of the EU Council of Ministers. The priorities of the Hungarian Presidency in terms of the environment will follow on from the work done by the outgoing Belgian Presidency and the Spanish Presidency which preceded it. There is no doubt that climate negotiations ahead of the world climate conference in December 2011 (COP 17 in Durban, South Africa) and, domestically, the implementation of the climate/energy package will be the top priorities. Better management of extreme hydrological events, protection of global biodiversity, the search for a solution to the thorny issue of authorising GM crops in the EU and the efficient use of resources complete Hungarian ambitions for the next six months as it heads the EU Council.
Climate. Hungary will settle immediately to preparing a united EU position for the COP 17 negotiations when it hopes for an ambitious, binding global agreement to protect the climate after 2012. It intends to ensure that the decisions taken at Cancun are implemented in the EU and that the foundations are laid in Durban for the first Cancun Protocol commitment period.
The Hungarian Presidency will make sure that the climate/energy package adopted in 2009 is applied and will lead consultations among member states on increasing the emissions reduction target by 2020 (compared with 1990 levels) to 30%. After receiving a proposal from the Commission, the Presidency will open a debate on the EU agenda until 2050, seeking to direct the EU towards a low-carbon economy, with more efficient use of resources.
Extreme hydrological events. The Hungarian Presidency's objective will be integrated, sustainable management of extreme water weather events (heavy rainfall, sudden localised flooding, droughts, etc) linked to climate change. It will encourage the Council to build integrated management of extreme weather and hydrological events, the role of environmental services assured by water and the importance of international cooperation into the new EU strategy on water policy due to be adopted in 2012 (Blueprint for Europe's water).
GMO. As it announced at the last Environment Council in December, Hungary hopes to reach first reading agreement by June 2011 on the Commission proposal to give member states a degree of leeway in restricting or banning, within their borders, crops of GMOs which have been legally authorised within the EU (see EUROPE 10281). Biodiversity: Presidency efforts will be guided by the commitments undertaken in Nagoya and preparation of the new EU post-2010 strategy. (A.N./transl.rt)