Brussels, 17/12/2015 (Agence Europe) - The mid-term review on the EU's biodiversity strategy is clear: in spite of progress, the goal of staunching the loss of biodiversity by 2020 will not be achieved unless efforts are stepped up (see EUROPE 11403).
EU environment ministers, meeting in Brussels on Wednesday 16 December, were unanimous in their desire to improve implementation of the strategy while retaining the legal framework of the habitats and birds directives. They said that these two directives were fulfilling their function even though, in the member states, there had to be better compliance with their provisions (see EUROPE 11436).
“Ministers listened to all the citizens who raised their voice for ambitious biodiversity policies. We send a clear signal: biodiversity has many co-benefits for society. The existing nature directives work, deliver and should not be reopened”, said Carole Dieschbourg, Luxembourg environment minister and outgoing president of the Environment Council.
This message delivered in a public debate is reflected in the unanimous conclusions. The Council stresses that more money must be found for this strategy. It also advocates better implementation stronger enforcement as well as integrating biodiversity in all relevant sectoral policies, in particular fisheries, the common agriculture policy, forestry and cohesion policy. These areas are seen as problematic but potentially also form part of the solution, if these policies are sustainable. Many delegations made this point, including the Austrian minister who said that “forestry is one of the great successes of the CAP” and sights should not be set on the wrong target.
“This is 2015; we have travelled half the distance. The conclusions cover the most important initiatives for achieving the general objective of the strategy. Biodiversity loss, which is continuing despite the progress recorded, affects the economy, citizens' health, our ability to mitigate climate change and for us to adapt to it, and compromises sustainable development”, said European Commissioner Karmenu Vella. He announced that the Commission will consider any necessary complementary initiatives “in the light of the health check on the habitats and birds directives next spring”. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)