Brussels, 04/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - EU 28 environment ministers have agreed to prioritise energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions in an effort to “green” the European Semester. This mechanism was set up in 2010 to improve the coordination of economic policies in EU member states. The ministers' debate on Monday 3 March in Brussels focused on the Annual Growth Survey 2014, which is aimed at preparing their contribution to the European Council on 20-21 March.
The European Council chaired by the Greek minister, Yiannis Maniatis, emphasised that environment ministers have a role to play in preparing the national reform programmes to guarantee growth potential and job creation linked to reducing fuel emissions in the economy and ensuring that resources are used efficiently. Creating national strategies and quantifiable targets is a useful instrument in this respect, explained the Council.
EU 28 ministers want to play a greater role in policies promoting job creation and stimulating innovation. They said they were convinced that at a European level the sustainable growth potential in the green economy deserved more specific attention in the Annual Growth Survey.
At the end of the ministerial session, Janez Potoènik, the European Commissioner for the Environment, was delighted to inform the press that the “environmental policy's positive contribution to the economy is better understood and better known because we have more data. Due to energy efficiency, we can improve the environmental situation and also contribute to economic activity. There has been a broad agreement on the subject”. According to the commissioner, a greater role played by environment ministers would help to “contribute to this economic governance and promote greater understanding that the greening of our growth and jobs is a common objective at the Environment Council”.
Last year, the Environment Council adopted recommendations for each country regarding the elimination of environmentally damaging subsidies, the recycling potential, better waste and water management and sustainable transport. (AN)