Brussels, 28/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - The draft framework for EU climate and energy policies from now until 2030, in addition to the draft legislation on “pick and mix” GMO harvests, will be the two burning issues submitted to environment ministers on Monday 3 March in Brussels.
Although no formal decision is expected on these controversial subjects, the public debates will be important politically. The first exchange of views on the integrated climate/energy framework will help to assess the lie of the land in view of the European Council debate on 20-21 March, because Yiannis Maniatis, the Greek Minister for the environment, energy and climate change, expects the exchange of views at the Energy Council on 4 March to help him summarise the preliminary points of view expressed at these two Council groupings, so that he can send a letter to Herman Van Rompuy, the president of the European Council. The Greek Presidency believes that it will not be able to adopt these conclusions until June.
On the question of GMOs, the exchange of views is expected to help confirm the impetus relocated at the General Affairs Council on 11 February for pushing forward with a compromise text. The presidency hopes to reach a political agreement soon. Three European Commissioners: Connie Hedegaard (Climate), Janez Potoènik (Environment) and Tonio Borg (Health) will be taking part in this session.
2030 climate/energy framework: the Council will hold a public orientation debate on the integrated draft framework presented on 22 January by the Commission in order to propose: - a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels, binding targets that will be reached exclusively through national measures; - a European target of at least 27% renewable energies (a new energy efficiency target will be subject to the energy efficiency directive review this year); - creating permanent quota backloading to reform the ETS in a sustainable way by 2021; - a new system of governance (see EUROPE 11002). Ministers will be invited to say whether this proposed framework guarantees an appropriate balance between ambition and flexibility. According to them, they need to examine the following stages and rethink certain aspects that can be further thrashed out and better defined.
GMO pick and mix harvests: the Council will hold an exchange of views on the Commission's regulatory proposal of 2010 that aims to amend this legislation (directive 2001/18/EC) and provide member states with an opportunity to opt out and ban or limit GMO harvests on their territory but which have been authorised in the EU, on the condition that they use other reasons in addition to health. The Presidency intends to revive the debate on the draft regulation that has been on hold since June 2012, on the basis of a compromise it concocted and which contains two other possibilities: that the petitions party only presents its request for authorisation in certain member states or that member states have the possibility of justifying, after an opt out, on the basis of other reasons, including socio-economic reasons (see EUROPE 11028). The presidency is hoping to reach a political agreement before the end of June, if possible even before the Environment Council that month. It is likely that the proposal France will be making in favour of going back to square one with authorisation procedures in the EU will arrive a little late. A senior official emphasised on Friday that if this had been presented at the workgroup after the General Affairs Council on 11 February, it would have had more impact.
Greening up the European Semester: in an effort to prepare their contribution to the European Council on the 20 and 21 of March, ministers will have a debate on the annual examination of growth in 2014. This will focus on ways of enhancing environmental issues as part of the coordination of economic policies for growth and job creation. Ministers will be answering three questions: what are the main constraints on the efficient use of resources and reducing carbon emissions - two EUROPE 2020 strategy targets? With regard to the efficient use of resources and tackling climate change, what national measures will be most apt to contribute to sustainable growth and job creation and could be included in the 2014 national reform programmes? How can the role of environment ministers be strengthened during the different phases of the European Semester cycle? (AN)