Brussels, 02/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - The 7th environmental action programme to be prepared by the European Commission should not only promote progress in environmental protection but also stimulate more effective use of energy and natural resources in the EU and prevent health threats, say MEPs at the environment committee of the European Parliament chaired by Matthias Groote (S&D, Germany).
Following their rapporteur, Jo Leinen (S&D, Germany), who is former chairman of the same parliamentary committee, MEPs set out their wishes for the future ten-year programme for 2013-2023 in a recommendation adopted by a large majority (50 votes for, 8 against and one abstention), in Brussels on Wednesday 29 February.
The integration of environmental challenges into all EU sector-specific policies, especially those policies relating to industry, transport, agriculture and fisheries, should be the backbone of the programme.
Concerned by the unsustainable level of consumption of natural resources and energy in Europe, the environment committee trusts that the 7th action programme will integrate the need to have binding objectives for energy efficiency (these have just been called for by the ITRE committee in its vote on the relevant directive) (see EUROPE 10563).
In the knowledge that the European Commission must this year present a document on the future direction to be taken by water policy, MEPs urge member states to henceforth ensure complete implementation of existing legislation in the water sector. They also call for binding targets to be fixed to ensure sustainable soil use and remind the Commission of the need to define sustainability criteria for biomass.
Members of the parliamentary committee also hope that the programme will effectively tackle the new threats weighing on human and animal health caused by nano-materials, endocrine disruptors and chemical cocktails made up of substances that are not toxic when taken individually but, when combined, can become so.
MEPs also believe it is appropriate for the programme to contain a strict and detailed plan at both European and national levels aimed at the elimination by 2020 of subsidies that are detrimental for the environment, taking into account the fact that such subsidies could have adverse effects on biodiversity. The Parliament will take a stance on this draft recommendation during the April plenary session. (AN/transl.jl)