EU28 environment ministers will be discussing eco-innovation for improved air quality, better environmental regulation and international climate change talks at their informal meeting in Sofia on Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 April. The meeting will be chaired by Bulgarian Minister of the Environment and Water, Neno Dimov, who is president-in-office of the EU Environment Council.
The first two subjects, which are priorities for the Bulgarian Presidency, will be discussed on 10 April in the presence of European Environment Commissioner Karmenu Vella. International climate talks will be tackled the following day with Commissioner for Climate Action Miguel Arias Cañete.
Eco-innovation for air quality. With its concern to promote innovative solutions for improving air quality and the health of European citizens, as well as environmental protection, the Bulgarian Presidency plans to launch the ministerial debate on ways to ensure eco-innovation works to reduce atmospheric pollution. In this field, where member states are struggling to comply with EU legislation, the presidency will invite ministers to discuss “concrete and viable” solutions shown by the 21st European Eco-Innovation Forum last February to exist in the energy and transport sectors as well as in agriculture (see EUROPE 11958).
Better regulation and better application of environmental legislation. Ministers will be invited to discuss ways and tools allowing improved implementation by member states of EU environmental legislation, including greater consistency between that legislation and other sector-specific legislations. In practical terms, the Bulgarian Presidency is very keen on simplifying the European regulatory framework in order to reduce red tape, improving coordination with other legislations for more effective implementation of environmental legislation, and using to the full tools for improved performance, such as scrutiny of implementation by each country (EIR), the exchange of best practice between member states, and dialogue with the Commission, especially on improving air quality.
Talanoa Dialogue. With just a few weeks to go before the next round of international climate talks at expert level (Bonn, 30 April-10 May), ministers will hold an exchange of views on the ongoing Talanoa Dialogue. The latter was launched by the COP23 in November 2017 in order to allow the international community to contribute, throughout 2018, to joint reflection on the need to increase nationally determined contributions (NDC). This should come about by 2020 in order to implement the Paris Climate Agreement. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres recently called for a new burst of effort, saying on 3 April that “if ambitions are not raised, climate chaos will continue”. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)