Brussels, 06/07/2015 (Agence Europe) - Tackling climate change, shifting to a low carbon economy, maintaining biodiversity and improving air quality are the main priorities for the Luxembourg Presidency in the area of environment.
All of these priorities fall within the aim of promoting sustainable development and each one comprises an internal and an international component. The Paris climate conference (COP 21, 30 November-11 December), at which it is hoped a new global, legally binding, ambitious and dynamic treaty will be concluded to succeed the Kyoto Protocol, and the global post-2015 framework with sustainable development goals (SDGs), to be agreed at the United Nations in September to follow on from the millennium development goals (MDGs), will chart the Presidency's path internationally.
Financing climate action and preservation of biodiversity will be the two topics for discussion identified by the Presidency for the informal meeting of the Environment Council on 22 and 23 July.
Air quality. The Luxembourg Presidency is committed to improving air quality in Europe, despite the difficult context with 15 member states currently in breach of existing legislation and the new “Clean Air for Europe” package more demanding.
The Presidency will have the difficult task of continuing discussions on the proposal to revise the directive setting national emissions ceilings for some atmospheric pollutants (Directive 2003/35/EC, known as the NEC directive) in the knowledge that the new targets for 2030 will be difficult for most member states to meet (see EUROPE 11335). The aim is to open negotiations with the European Parliament with a view to first reading agreement “but it's clear that passage of the NEC package will be difficult and complex, particularly as there is an element of uncertainty”, a diplomatic source admitted recently. The Commission hopes that the inter-institutional talks might be opened in September. It announced, however, that it would present an amended position following the vote by the Parliament environment committee, scheduled for 15 July (see EUROPE 11263). Were the Parliament to vote for something far removed from the Council position and the European Commission to amend its proposal to bring it closer to the Council stance, that would do nothing to ease things. “This is a priority issue for the Presidency but it is difficult to promise success”, the above source acknowledged.
Much, however, has already been done on the proposal on limiting the emissions of certain pollutants from medium combustion plants on which provisional inter-institutional agreement has just been reached (see EUROPE 11342).
Reducing CO2 emissions/ETS. Aware that the emissions trading scheme (ETS) is central to reducing CO2 emissions and to allowing the EU to meet its international obligations, the Luxembourg Presidency will give it full consideration.
- Market stability reserve. The inter-institutional agreement having been reached, all that remains is for it to be confirmed (in a few days' time by the Parliament - see EUROPE 11321 - then without debate by the Council of the EU) before the text is published in the Official Journal.
- The proposal on the long-term reform of the ETS for after 2020 is expected from the European Commission before the end of the summer (see EUROPE 11349). As soon as this proposal is brought forward, discussion will begin within the Council working group but the Luxembourg Presidency can make no predictions on the progress that might be made during its term. Before coming to a decision, the member states will certainly be keen to find out what the proposal is on non-ETS sectors. This will not be presented until after COP 21. The two closely linked texts are expected to come together in one package in the course of 2016.
Climate/COP 21. The Luxembourg Presidency will lead discussions with a view to adopting an ambitious negotiating mandate at the exceptional Environment Council on 18 September. It will coordinate with the European Commission and France to ensure that the EU is united and at its most effective in negotiations throughout the whole of the second half of the year. It will lay particular emphasis on climate funding. Luxembourg's position is somewhat at odds with that of the other member states as it takes the view that funding climate action in developing action should be separate from development funding and, as such, be in addition.
Post-2015 agenda. The Luxembourg Presidency will support the negotiation process that will culminate in New York in September and will carry out considerable preparation and coordination within the relevant Council formations, especially Ecofin, “because money is needed to be able to make the financial commitments that conclusion of an agreement brings”, said an expert, highlighting the clear links between development, the climate change agenda and the sustainable development goals.
Biodiversity. The mid-term review of the European strategy on biodiversity is scheduled for the second half of 2015. The Luxembourg Presidency will conduct a detailed examination of the results of the strategy. It is already known that, if no changes are brought, the strategy will not meet the objective set by the EU of halting the loss of biodiversity and restoring ecosystems and eco-system services to as great an extent as possible by 2020 (see EUROPE 11327 and 11294).
Review of the EUROPE 2020 strategy. On this non-legislative issue, the Presidency will continue with the discussions on greening the European semester. (Aminata Niang)