Luxembourg, 11/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - The environment ministers of the EU want an ambitious seventh environment action programme (EAP) which lays down the new directions of the environment policy for the next several years, to lead the EU towards a green, low-carbon economy which makes efficient use of its resources. In order to do this, the EAP should be based on the EUROPE 2020 strategy and on Vision 2050, as stated in the roadmap for the efficiency of resources and the transition to a low-carbon economy, they told the Environment Council in Luxembourg on 11 June. Time is of the essence, as the current EAP expires on 15 July. The Council is therefore urging the European Commission to identify the priorities and ambitions of the seventh EAP, together with realistic and achievable specific objectives, indicators and cost-effective actions for between now and 2020. The Council calls for the seventh EAP to tackle biodiversity, climate change, water, the urban environment and links between the environment and health.
The unanimous conclusions adopted by the Council are the fruit of a compromise fought for by Ida Auken, the Danish minister who chaired the session. Poland, true to form, supported by Bulgaria and the Czech Republic, opposed any reference in the text on the fight against climate change to the roadmap to a low-carbon economy - to the great consternation of Belgium, supported by France. It became possible to resolve this issue thanks to verbal reassurances given by Janez Potocnik that the proposal to be presented by the Commission “before the end of the year” would indeed take account of the roadmap towards a low-carbon economy between now and 2050. In line with Germany's suggested compromise, the conclusions on this point stick to the language of the conclusions of the March European Council, referring to the EU's strategy to reduce its emissions by between 80 and 95% by 2050 (compared to 1990 emissions levels).
“The main thing is not to give the impression that the resources efficiency policy and the fight against climate change are built on different foundations. Whether it is written down or not, we will take account of the roadmap towards a low-carbon economy by 2050. I remind you of our right of initiative”, Potocnik told the ministers. Earlier, Beata Jczewska , the Polish secretary of state, had said that “it is better to talk about reducing emissions than to refer to Roadmap 2050”, because we must “not forget the conditions linked to these objectives in the international context”. The Belgian minister, Evelyne Huytebroeck, spoke out strongly against the text being watered down, and the new French minister, Nicole Bricq, followed suit, pointing out that “an emissions reduction strategy is not a roadmap”. (AN/transl.fl)