Brussels, 02/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - Gaston Franco (EPP, France), the rapporteur for the EU's 7th environmental action programme until 2020 is highlighting the “crucial value” of the environment and the possibility of paying for environmental services. He is also seeking to promote the, “the synergy between industry and the environment” in an effort to move towards, “a new ecological deal and green growth” that puts environmental policy at the service of competitiveness, through the improved environmental performance of SMEs.
These concerns are at the heart of his draft report that will be put to a vote at the Parliament's environment committee on 24 April next. These concerns already have broad support from members of this Parliamentary committee, which debated the priorities of the European Commission's 7th EAP's priorities in November 2012. The Council held a similar debate in December last year (see EUROPE 10753). Jo Leinen (S&D, Germany), the chairperson of the ENVI committee concluded that, “there are very stronger amendments in this report, which we support”. Nonetheless, in a reference to waste management, soil protection and climate change, he added that, “in certain sectors, we could do better”.
The rapporteur is highlighting the need for effective implementation of the water framework directive in all member states and the necessity of avoiding farmers being penalised. The rapporteur believes that protecting marine biodiversity and the sustainable management of forests are also of crucial importance.
In an effort to encourage appropriate application of EU legislation by member states, he is calling for the question of Community support for specific situations to be debated. At an international level, he is calling on environmental dumping to be opposed by way of fair burden sharing with third countries.
During the debate, Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (ALDE, Netherlands) explained that water and soil are absolutely crucial and he opposed the amendments to dilute the framework directive on water. Margrete Auken (Greens/EFA, Denmark) called for more efficient environmental inspections and an end to waste incineration because the latter should be considered as a resource. Before examining the priorities in a new EU action programme, Anna Rosbach (ECR, Denmark) would like to see whether the objectives assigned to it have been achieved.
The 7th EAP is one of the Irish Presidency's priorities on which it would like to reach an agreement with Parliament and the Council before the end of June. The plenary session vote could take place in June, if negotiations with the Council go well (our translation throughout). (AN/transl.fl)