22/06/2017 (Agence Europe) – The European Parliament environment committee gave the green light on Thursday 22 June to the opening of inter-institutional negotiations on the draft EU regulation establishing effort-sharing among member states in reducing CO2 emissions from the sectors not covered by the ETS. These are transport, agriculture, buildings and waste – sectors which will be required to reduce their emissions by 30% in the course of the period from 2021 to 2030, compared with 2005, as their contribution to the EU climate target of a cut of at least 40% in emissions by 2030 (see EUROPE 11808). It was by the very wide margin of 534 votes to 88, with 56 abstentions, that rapporteur Gerben Jan Gerbrandy (ALDE, Netherlands) was granted a mandate to negotiate with the Council of the EU. The Council hopes to agree its position in October (see EUROPE 11811). (AN)