Brussels, 10/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - In environment, the Irish Presidency, which has just taken over at the helm of the EU Council of Ministers, has set itself three priorities, one of which is the 7th Environmental Action Programme (EAP), now tabled at the Council and Parliament. Phil Hogan, Irish Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, believes this to be the most important initiative at strategic level. He says this is because it structures the whole environmental policy for the next few years. On the subject of this programme, on which a first discussion was held during the last Environment Council under Cypriot Presidency (see EUROPE 10753), the Irish Presidency trusts an agreement will be reached during its six-month term of office at the head of the EU Council.
The European Commission's proposal expected in March on a framework for adaptation to climate change is the second strategic priority on which the president-in-office of the Environment Council hopes Council conclusions will be reached during the informal ministerial session in Dublin in April. The informal Council should also launch the debate on raising European ambitions for the reduction of emissions by 2030 and beyond and on improving ambient air quality and sustainable development in urban areas. On the subject of short-term reform of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), Hogan is aware that views do differ but considers it important for things to be quite clear on the carbon market.
The third priority will be to make further progress on the proposals concerning priority substances in water (the Council president believes an agreement is near), ship recycling - said to be an essential proposal for worker health - the batteries directive, reduction of CO2 emissions from cars and vans, the Life programme for the environment and climate action, the toughening of EU regulations on certain fluorinated greenhouse gases (gas F) (see EUROPE 10726 and 10725), and review of the directive on environmental impact assessments for certain programmes and projects.
At international level, the Irish Presidency will ensure follow-up for the Doha Conference on climate change (COP 18) and Council conclusions should be adopted in June. It will also be up to the Irish Presidency to prepare the EU's stance for international gatherings, such as the conference for the United Nations Environment Programme aimed at concluding a treaty on mercury in February, follow-up to the Rio+20 conference, as well as the United Nations Convention on waste and chemical products. (AN/transl.jl)