Brussels, 17/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - Member states have been calling for the 7th Environmental Action Programme (EAP) presented by the European Commission last November (see EUROPE 10742 and 10741) high and low and the programme was given a generally positive welcome by the Environment Council during the first orientation debate chaired by Sofoclis Aletraris. Nonetheless, the economic crisis means that only a few voices such as Denmark, Sweden and Germany have called for increasing the level of ambition in the quantitative targeted objectives, as Belgium has done. All the different countries considered that the text constituted a good basis for further discussion. Summarising the orientations obtained on this proposal (which will constitute a priority of the Irish presidency as from next January), the outgoing president of the Council referred to: almost unanimous support for this text as a framework for environmental policy that facilitates the transition to the green and sustainable economy (the only country that thought that this framework had already been drawn up was the United Kingdom). Some states had misgivings about introducing any new legislation (such as the United Kingdom) and support was given by many delegations to the nine political priorities identified, as was the insistence of certain delegations on the need to take into account the specificities of member states (Poland). Several delegations thought that respect for the subsidiarity principle was important (United Kingdom) and concerns were expressed by several member states with regard to the objective of getting rid of landfill by 2020, claiming they were rather unrealistic (Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Malta). The outgoing president of the Council said that certain actions would have to be clarified. The most enthusiastic delegations were Denmark, Austria, Italy and Sweden. The latter called for concrete actions before 2018.
The Commissioner for the environment, Janez Potocnik informed ministers that it was a difficult birth but the child was not premature and is in good health. He said they should concentrate on the strategic aspects, and that some have said there are too many priorities and want them to say precisely what can be done for the economy. He said the proposal, however, takes into account the Council's three conclusions. He wanted to be coherent with the previous conclusions, saying it is these that inspired them. Several requested strengthening implementation. He said this point was highlighted but it is not enough; agreement is needed on how to proceed. Countries such as Hungary called for greater integration of the environment into other EU policies. The Commissioner suggested saying a word about this to their colleagues because during the discussions on the multiannual financial framework, he had not heard about any proposal that would strengthen the greening of the CAP. (AN/transl.fl)